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Meranoplus christinae
| Meranoplus christinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Meranoplus |
| Species: | M. christinae |
| Binomial name | |
| Meranoplus christinae Schödl, 2007
| |
Known from south-central Queensland and New South Wales.
Identification
Schödl (2007) - One of the larger species, M. christinae may be distinguished from all others by the clypeal projection and in the almost flanged frontal carinae. Meranoplus occidentalis, which has a similar clypeus is readily separated by the distinctly larger eyes, by the different promesosomal shield with missing posterior projections and by the different distribution.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -26.78555556° to -26.78555556°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
Worker
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Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- christinae. Meranoplus christinae Schödl, 2007: 389, figs. 38, 39, 71, 82, pl. 1,B (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland, New South Wales).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 68 paratype workers, 1 paratype queen.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, 26°47.8’Sx145°49.3’E, “Merigol”, site 4, mulga, iv.2001, pitfall trap #4, 10858’ (T. Beutel); paratypes: 6 workers with same data, 62 workers, 1 queen with same data, “but various site and pitfall-trap numbers”.
- Type-depositories: QMBA (holotype); ANIC, NHMW, QMBA (paratypes).
- Distribution: Australia.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype. TL 6.70, HL 1.63, HW 1.98, FC 1.50, CS 1.80, SL 0.91, SI1 46, SI2 51, PML 1.23, PW 1.65, PMD 1.73, PMI2 105, ML 1.55, PSL 0.69, PTLL 0.48, PTLH 0.61, PTDW 0.61, PPLL 0.45, PPLH 0.70, PPI 64, PPDW 0.59, PT/PP 104.
Mandible with three large acute teeth. Clypeus medially excavated, distinctly bidentate and longitudinally carinulate, with denticles laterally sinuately merging into anterolateral frontal projections. Head distinctly wider than long (CI 122), preoccipital corners bulbously rounded, the rear margin emarginate. Frontal carinae in posterior half almost straight, anteriorly abruptly becoming broader and sinuately narrowed towards clypeus, distinctly narrower than head width (FI 132). Antennal scrobe in lateral view surpassing middle of length of head posteriorly, transversely carinulate in posterior half, occasionally with additional microsculpture, posteriorly weakely demarcated from remainder of head. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head carinate to rugoreticulate, preoccipital lobes reticulate. Compound eyes of moderate size (EL 0.30, REL 0.18, with 17 ommatidia in the longest row) situated well in front of middle of lateral sides of head, dorsal ocular margin distinctly separated from ventral scrobal margin.
Promesonotum markedly wider than long (PMI 135), translucently margined laterally as well as posteriorly, concealing lateral sides of mesosoma and propodeal declivity. Mesosomal section markedly narrower than pronotum, with acute well developed projections. Propodeal spines rather long (PSL 0.69) situated above middle of length of declivity, acute and straight, moderately diverging when seen from above.
Petiole higher than long (PTI 78), in profile with anterior face straight, posterior face convex, distinctly and regularly costate. Postpetiole elongately nodiform with ventral medium sized tooth, rugose throughout.
First gastral tergite elongately and irregularly carinulate in basal half, posteriorly with microreticulum and interspersed glossy spots, with pilosity of differently sized setose hairs.
Dorsum of head anteriorly rugose, with additional rugulae and few transverse ridges, posteriorly reticulate, interspaces with microsculpture; with scattered arcuate thin hairs and fewer setose ones. Promesonotal shield coarsely rugoreticulate, with similar, though longer pilosity.
Concolorous brown to fuscous, frequently with the gaster somewhat brighter.
(n = 6). TL 6.65-7.20, HL 1.60-1.73, HW 1.95-2.01, FC 1.45-1.58, FI 129-134, CI 120-123, CS 1.78-1.91, SL 0.91-1.0, SI1 46-49, SI2 50-54, PML 1.20-1.43, PW 1.65-1.83, PMI 125-140, PMD 1.70-1.90, PMI2 101-106, ML 1.5-1.7, PSL 0.69-0.75, PTLL 0.45-0.53, PTLH 0.61-0.75, PTI 70-78, PTDW 0.56-0.70, PPLL 0.45-0.50, PPLH 0.70-0.89, PPI 63-68, PPDW 0.59-0.70, PT/PP 94-104, EL 0.29-0.32, REL 0.17-0.20, with 15-19 ommatidia in the longest row.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Queensland: 'Qld:26°47.8'Sx145°49.3'E "Merigol", site 4, mulga. Apr 2001. T.Beutel. pitfall trap #4. 10858' (Queensland Museum). Paratypes. 6 workers, same data as holotype; 62 workers, 1 gyne with same locality data but various site and pitfall-trap numbers (Australian National Insect Collection, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna, QMBA).
Etymology
Named for Christine, my partner. I simply adore her.
References
- Schödl, S. 2007. Revision of Australian Meranoplus: the Meranoplus diversus group. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80:370-424.