Meranoplus magrettii

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Meranoplus magrettii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Meranoplus
Species: M. magrettii
Binomial name
Meranoplus magrettii
André, 1884
Synonyms

MCZ-ENT00516858 Meranoplus magrettii hal.jpg

MCZ-ENT00516858 Meranoplus magrettii had.jpg

Specimen labels

Colonies are found nesting in the soil of open habitats. There is a small round turret of vegetation at the nest opening. These small ants are relatively slow moving and inconspicuous. They forage at night.

Identification

  • Meranoplus magrettii 0596.jpg

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.45° to -29.63333°.

     
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan (type locality), Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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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Habitat

Known from savannah, open-woodland and grassland habitats.

Biology

Castes

MeranoplusEconomo-header (arilab.unit.oist.jp).png  X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Meranoplus magrettii (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • magrettii. Meranoplus magrettii André, 1884a: 245 (w.) SUDAN (date of publication 15.iv.1884).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Sudan: Suakin (P. Magretti).
    • Type-depositories: MNHN, MSNG.
    • [Also described as new by André, 1884b: 543 (date of publication 15.xi.1884).]
    • Menozzi & Consani, 1952: 66 (q.).
    • Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 137; Mayr, 1893: 201; Forel, 1894b: 79; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 888; Emery, 1924d: 227; Menozzi & Consani, 1952: 66; Bolton, 1981a: 55 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 251; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 212.
    • Senior synonym of bondroiti: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
    • Senior synonym of diversipilosus: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
    • Senior synonym of nitidiventris: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
    • Senior synonym of simoni: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
    • Senior synonym of suturalis: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
    • Material of the unavailable name springvalensis referred here by Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
    • Distribution: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
  • bondroiti. Meranoplus bondroiti Santschi, 1915c: 254, fig. 4 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Democratic Republic of Congo: Uzaga (Gérard).
    • [Note; Santschi merely says of the locality, “région des grandes Lacs”; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 887 provides “Belgian Congo”.]
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 887; Emery, 1924d: 227.
    • Junior synonym of magrettii: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 250.
  • diversipilosus. Meranoplus simoni var. diversipilosus Santschi, 1932a: 388 (w.) ZIMBABWE.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Zimbabwe (“S. Rhodesia”): Sawmills, 12.vii.1920 (G. Arnold).
    • Type-depositories: NHMB, SAMC.
    • Junior synonym of magrettii: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
  • nitidiventris. Meranoplus simoni subsp. nitidiventris Mayr, 1901b: 26 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Orange Free State, Bothaville (H. Brauns).
    • Type-depository: NHMW.
    • Arnold, 1917: 371 (q.m.).
    • Subspecies of simoni: Forel, 1913a: 116; Arnold, 1917: 370; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 888; Emery, 1924d: 227.
    • Junior synonym of magrettii: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
  • simoni. Meranopus simoni Emery, 1895h: 41, pl. 2, fig. 23 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Vrijburg, 1893 (E. Simon).
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • Status as species: Mayr, 1901b: 26; Arnold, 1917: 369; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 888; Emery, 1924d: 227; Menozzi, 1930b: 110.
    • Junior synonym of magrettii: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 251.
  • suturalis. Meranoplus simoni subsp. suturalis Forel, 1910e: 424 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Natal (Haviland).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Subspecies of simoni: Arnold, 1917: 370; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 889; Emery, 1924d: 227.
    • Junior synonym of magrettii: Bolton, 1981a: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 252.

Description

References

  • André, E. 1884b [1883]. [Untitled. Meranoplus Magrettii Andr. n. sp.]. P. 245 in: Magretti, P. Raccolte imenotterologiche nell'Africa Orientale. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 15:241-253. (page 245, worker described)
  • André, E. 1884f. [Untitled. Meranoplus Magrettii, n. sp.]. P. 543 in: Magretti, P. Risultati di raccolte imenotterologiche nell'Africa Orientale. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. 21:523-636. (page 543, also described as new)
  • Bolton, B. 1981a. A revision of the ant genera Meranoplus F. Smith, Dicroaspis Emery and Calyptomyrmex Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 42: 43-81 (page 55, Senior synonym of bondroiti, diversipilosus, nitidiventris, simoni, springvalensis and suturalis)
  • Menozzi, C.; Consani, M. 1952 [1951]. Missione biologica Sagan-Omo diretta dal Prof. E. Zavattari. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Riv. Biol. Colon. 11: 57-71 (page 66, queen described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
  • Bolton B. 1981. A revision of the ant genera Meranoplus F. Smith, Dicroaspis Emery and Calyptomyrmex Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 42: 43-81.
  • Diame L., B. Taylor, R. Blatrix, J. F. Vayssieres, J. Y. Rey, I. Grechi, and K. Diarra. 2017. A preliminary checklist of the ant (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) fauna of Senegal. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 5(15): 1-16.
  • Dieng M. M., A. B. Ndiaye, C. T. Ba, and B. Taylor. 2016. Les fourmis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) de l’enclos d’acclimatation de Katane de la reserve de faune du Ferlo nord (Senegal). Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 10(4): 1626-1636.
  • Emery C. 1895. Voyage de M. E. Simon dans l'Afrique australe (janvier-avril 1893). 3e mémoire. Formicides. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 64: 15-56.
  • Forel A. 1910. Note sur quelques fourmis d'Afrique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 54: 421-458.
  • Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
  • IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
  • Koch F., and K. Vohland. 2004. Ants along a southern African transect - a basis for biodiversity change monitoring (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution 80(2): 261-273.
  • Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
  • Menozzi C., M. Consani. 1952. Missione biologica Sagan-Omo diretta dal Prof. E. Zavattari. Hymenoptera Formicidae. Rivista di Biologia Coloniale 11: 57-71.
  • Prins A. J., and J. J. Cillie. 1968. The ants collected in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi game reserves. The Lammergeyer 8: 40-47.
  • Samways M. J. 1990. Species temporal variability: epigaeic ant assemblages and management for abundance and scarcity. Oecologia 84: 482-490.
  • Santschi F. 1915. Nouvelles fourmis d'Afrique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 84: 244-282.
  • Santschi F. 1932. Formicides sud-africains. Pp. 381-392 in: Jeannel, R. (ed.) 1932. Société Entomologique de France. Livre du centenaire. Paris: Société Entomologique de France, xii + 729 pp.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004
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