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Meranoplus siamensis
| Meranoplus siamensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Meranoplus |
| Species: | M. siamensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Meranoplus siamensis Yodprasit & Jaitrong, 2024 | |
This species can be found in dry evergreen and dry dipterocarp forests. The specimens collected from northeastern Thailand nested in the soil. Workers moved slowly on the ground.
Photo Gallery
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Identification
Yodprasit et al. (2024) - Meranoplus siamensis is a small species that is most similar to Meranoplus tanomtongi in general appearance, having a pair of fenestrae along each lateral margin of the promesonotal shield, and having a subrectangular postpetiole when seen in profile. However, M. siamensis can be distinguished from M. tanomtongi by: 1) anterior corners of frontal lobes right angled and lateral margin almost straight (round and lateral margin weakly convex in M. tanomtongi, see Figs 5E, H for comparison); 2) compound eyes with 8 or 9 ommatidia along longest axis, each facet hexagon (each facet round or elliptical in M. tanomtongi, see Figs 5G, 6A for comparison); 3) dorsum of head weakly sculptured (dorsum of head entirely and distinctly reticulate in M. tanomtongi, see Fig. 5F, I for comparison); 4) dorsum of postpetiole somewhat flat, marginated with distinct ridge (shallowly concave, marginated with distinct ridge in M. tanomtongi); 5) entire head with dense short hairs mixed with sparse longer hairs (hairs along head margin clearly longer than hairs on middle of head in M. tanomtongi, see Fig. 5F, I for comparison).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Yodprasit et al. (2024) - Thailand (Uthai Thani, Chonburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Kanchanaburi Provinces)
_from_Thailand._ZooKeys_1210-207-227,_Fig._4.jpg)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 15.12° to 13.28°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Yodprasit et al., 2024
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
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
This species is known only from the worker caste.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- siamensis. Meranoplus siamensis Yodprasit & Jaitrong, in Yodprasit et al., 2024: 211, figs. 2, 4, 5H, I, 6A (w.) THAILAND.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Type Material
- Meranoplus siamensis: Holotype (designated by Yodprasit & Jaitrong, 2024), 1 worker, Chonburi Province, Sri Racha District, Kasetsart Sriracha Campus, dry evergreen forest, Thailand, 13°17′01″N 100°55′26″E / 13.2837°N 100.9238°E, 18.x.2003, Weeyawat Jaitrong, TH03-WJT-313, THNHM.
- Meranoplus siamensis: Paratypes (designated by Yodprasit & Jaitrong, 2024), 10 workers, Chonburi Province, Sri Racha District, Kasetsart Sriracha Campus, dry evergreen forest, Thailand, 13°17′01″N 100°55′26″E / 13.2837°N 100.9238°E, 18.x.2003, Weeyawat Jaitrong, THNHM.
- Meranoplus siamensis: Paratypes (designated by Yodprasit & Jaitrong, 2024), 3 workers, Chonburi Province, Sri Racha District, Kasetsart Sriracha Campus, dry evergreen forest, Thailand, 13°17′01″N 100°55′26″E / 13.2837°N 100.9238°E, 19.iv.2003, A. Suwanasri, THNHM.
Description
Worker
Measurements and indices. Holotype worker: HL 0.63, HW 0.65, ML 0.62, PML 0.48, PW 0.63, SL 0. 0.45, TL 2.58, CI 102.38, PMI 130.21, SI 69.77. Paratype workers (n = 5): HL 0.60–0.65, HW 0.63–0.66, ML 0.60–0.65, PML 0.46–0.51, PW 0.62–0.65, SL 0.43–0.48, TL 2.56–2.82, CI 100–106.45, PMI 127–136.26, SI 67.72–71.97.
Head in full-face view subquadrate, slightly shorter than broad, with sides broadly convex, posterior margin distinctly convex, posterolateral corner bluntly angulate. Antennal scapes short, reaching level of posterior margin of compound eyes, apical half incrassate; antennal segment II slender, longer than each of segments III–VI, and almost as long as III+IV+V; segment VI broader than each of segments II–V. Clypeus roughly subrectangular, shorter than broad, its anterior margin feebly concave medially, while posterior clypeal margin almost straight. Mandibles subtriangular, masticatory margin with four teeth. Compound eyes large and convex when seen in full-face view, located laterally and well behind mid-length of head, with 8 or 9 ommatidia along longest axis, each facet hexagonal (Fig. 6A). Frontal lobes broad, its anterior corners right angled and lateral margin almost straight (Fig. 5H). Frontal carinae long reaching posterolateral corners of head.
Mesosoma in dorsal view, promesonotal shield distinctly shorter than broad, its lateral margin convex, serrate, margined and slightly overhanging mesosoma; lateral and posterior portions of promesonotal shield with translucent fins; posterior margin of promesonotal shield sinuate and distinctly concave; anterolateral corners of promesonotal shield bluntly angulate and posterolateral corners of promesonotal shield roundly angulate; promesonotal shield with two pairs of fenestrae laterally; metanotal groove absent. Declivity of propodeum almost invisible from above, mostly overhung by posterior margin of promesonotal shield (propodeal spines are visible in profile). Mesosoma in profile subquadrate, dorsal outline weakly convex, lateral face of mesosoma relatively flat; lateral portion of pronotum subtriangular; metapleuron not clearly demarcated from mesopleuron and lateral face of propodeum. Propodeal spines long and acute, longer than wide at its base, located at middle of propodeal declivity length.
Petiole in profile subtriangular. Subpetiolar process low, its ventral outline weakly convex, with small anterior denticle. Postpetiole in profile subquadrate, shorter than high; in dorsal view, distinctly shorter than broad, anterior margin weakly convex, posterior margin distinctly convex; dorsum of postpetiole somewhat flat, marginated with distinct ridge, posterior face convex. Gaster about as large as head and mesosoma combined; first gastral tergite largest, in dorsal view, its anterior margin distinctly concave.
Sculpture. Mandibles striate, shiny. Antennal scapes superficially striate. Head dorsally sparsely reticulate-rugulose laterally, while median portion weakly sculptured; half posterior portion of antennal scrobes shagreened mixed with few transverse ridges. Promesonotal shield more weakly sculptured than dorsum of head, with median portion smooth, shiny, and lacking any rugae; in profile, upper one-third portion of pronotum shagreened, while lower two-third portion with sparse irregular ridges; upper one-third portion of mesopleuron shagreened, lower two-thirds longitudinal weakly striate; metapleuron, and lateral faces of propodeum somewhat smooth and shiny. Propodeum declivity shagreened. Petiole smooth and shiny, postpetiole somewhat smooth but posterior face of postpetiole scabrous. First gastral tergite superficially shagreened with smooth and shiny interspaces.
Pilosity and coloration. Dorsa of head and mesosoma with dense erect hairs mixed with sparse longer hairs; antennae with dense suberect hairs; in profile, lower two-thirds of pronotum with sparse suberect hairs; lower one-third of mesopleuron and metapleuron with sparse suberect hairs; area around propodeal spiracle with sparse suberect hairs; femora and tibiae with numerous long outstanding hairs as well; petiole with weakly sparse erect hairs on its anterior face and dorsum; postpetiole with dense long erect hairs, except anterior face without hairs; gaster with dense long erect hairs. Body mainly reddish brown; mandibles, antennae, legs, and tip of gaster yellowish brown.
Etymology
The specific name is after Thailand where the type locality is located; Thailand was called “Siam” in the past.