Meranoplus inermis

Identification
Meranoplus inermis is the only species in the nanus group, and the only known African species, to lack propodeal spines. Apart from this difference the two other species in the group are separated from inermis by the thicker, dorsally sculptured postpetiole in Meranoplus clypeatus, and the differently shaped posterior mesonotal margin in Meranoplus nanus which has 4-6 opaque projections spearated by very thin translucent cuticle.

Distribution
This taxon was described from South Africa. It is also found in Mozambique, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ghana and Nigeria.

Nomenclature

 *  inermis. Meranoplus inermis Emery, 1895h: 41, pl. 2, fig. 24 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Subspecies of nanus: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 888. Revived status as species and senior synonym of affinis, kiboshana, nanior, soriculus: Bolton, 1981a: 52.
 * kiboshana. Meranoplus nanus var. kiboshana Forel, 1907a: 12 (w.) KENYA. Junior synonym of inermis: Bolton, 1981a: 52.
 * nanior. Meranoplus nanus subsp. nanior Forel, 1907a: 12 (w.) KENYA. Viehmeyer, 1922: 209 (q.). Junior synonym of inermis: Bolton, 1981a: 52.
 * soriculus. Meranoplus nanus subsp. soriculus Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 184, fig. 45 (w.q.m.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Junior synonym of inermis: Bolton, 1981a: 52.
 * similis. Meranoplus nanus subsp. similis Karavaiev, 1931d: 44, fig. 3 (w.) KENYA. [Junior primary homonym of similis Viehmeyer, above.] Replacement name: affinis Baroni Urbani, 1971b: 361.
 * affinis. Meranoplus nanus subsp. affinis Baroni Urbani, 1971b: 361. Replacement name for similis Karavaiev, 1931d: 44. [Junior primary homonym of similis Viehmeyer, 1922: 208.] Junior synonym of inermis: Bolton, 1981a: 52.