Meranoplus variabilis

Meranoplus variabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Meranoplus
Species:	M. variabilis
Binomial name
Meranoplus variabilis Schödl, 2007

Distributed from central to south-east Australia, partly sympatrically occuring with M. angustinodis, reaching further to the north and east.

Identification

Schödl (2007) - A variable taxon regarding the outline of the promesonotal shield as well as the shape of the petiole, the length and shape of the propodeal spines and pilosity. For this reason numerous of the material, namely from Indulkana, Murnpeowie, Monarto, Mimilli and Wares Peak is here only provisionally added. Further samples are needed to elucidate whether more than one species is involved. Nonetheless, typical material is well defined by the forward oriented clypeal projection together with the box-shaped petiole.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Meranoplus diversus group workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -27.7° to -27.7°.

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.

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.

Castes

Worker

.

Nomenclature

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

• variabilis. Meranoplus variabilis Schödl, 2007: 403, figs. 44, 45, 74, 89 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory).
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 6 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Cullyamurra WH Coopers Creek, 27°42’S, 140°50’E, 21-24.ix.1990, ANZSES Surv. (J. Shaw); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depositories: SAMA (holotype); ANIC, NHMW, SAMA (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 5.20, HL 1.23, HW 1.40, FC 1.11, CS 1.31, SL 0.80, SI1 57, SI2 61, PML 1.0, PW 1.38, PMD 1.45, PMI2 105 ML 1.25, PTLL 0.40, PTLH 0.55, PTDW 0.53, PPLL 0.40, PPLH 0.55, PPI 73, PPDW 0.55, PT/PP 95.

Mandible with four teeth. In full face view lateral sides of clypeal projection distinctly converging, anteriorly narrowly excavated with anterolateral corners produced into triangular blunt teeth, surpassing anterolateral frontal corners, the clypeal surface coarsely rugose, medially less structured. Head wider than long (CI 114), preoccipital margin shallowly concave. Frontal carinae moderately narrower than head width (FI 126), evenly sinuately narrowing towards clypeus. With head in profile antennal scrobe reaching beyond middle of lateral side of head, with distinct transverse carinulae at the rear, posteriorly ill defined against preoccipital section. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head rugoreticulate, preoccipital lobes reticulate. Eyes moderate in size (EL 0.31, REL 0.25, with 18 ommatidia in the longest row), situated in front of lateral sides of head, the dorsal ocular margin touching the ventral scrobal margin. Dorsal surface of head almost entirely reticulate, only frons anteriorly rugose, without any further microsculpture.

Promesonotal shield somewhat square, distinctly wider than long (PMI 138), projections except posterior bluntly rounded ones well developed and more or less acute, margins overhanging lateral mesosomal sides and propodeal declivity. Propodeal spines moderate in length (PSL 0.44), narrowly and acutely triangular, in dorsal view more or less straight and distinctly diverging.

Petiole in lateral view broadly trapezoid, higher than long (PTI 73), with straight anterior and posterior faces roundly meeting feebly oblique reticulate dorsum. Postpetiole nodiform with small antero-basal tooth.

Gaster shiny, entire first gastral tergite densely and evenly microreticulate, at base with irregular carinulae. Dorsal surfaces covered with a layer of short decumbent and longer more or less erect soft hairs.

Strictly bicolored with similar patterns as in preceding species.

(n = 9). TL 4.05-6.05, HL 1.15-1.25, HW 1.23-1.40, FC 0.95-1.11, FI 126-129, CI 107-115, CS 1.19-1.33, SL 0.70-0.80, SI1 56-60, SI2 59-63, PML 0.85-1.0, PW 1.13-1.38, PMI 125-147, PMD 1.20-1.45, PMI2 104-113, ML 1.08-1.28, PSL 0.36-0.48, PTLL 0.35-0.40, PTLH 0.51-0.58, PTI 64-73, PTDW 0.43-0.53, PPLL 0.33-0.40, PPLH 0.48-0.58, PPI 61-73, PPDW 0.45-0.55, PT/PP 85-95, EL 0.27-0.31, REL 0.23-0.27, with 17-18 ommatidia in the longest row.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, Cullyamurra Water Hole, Coopers Creek, South Australia, Australia, 27°42′0″S 140°50′0″E, 21-24 September 1990, Shaw,J. & ANZSES Survey, South Australian Museum.
• Paratype, 4 workers, Cullyamurra Water Hole, Coopers Creek, South Australia, Australia, 27°42′0″S 140°50′0″E, 21-24 September 1990, Shaw,J. & ANZSES Survey, South Australian Museum.

Etymology

The name refers to the variable overall shape of the species.

References

• Schödl, S. 2007. Revision of Australian Meranoplus: the Meranoplus diversus group. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80:370-424.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Schödl S. 2007. Revision of Australian Meranoplus: the Meranoplus diversus group. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 370-424.