Meranoplus wilsoni

Distributed in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin to NE coastal Queensland.

Identification
Schödl (2007) - This is a uniform taxon that shows only similarities with Meranoplus mars (see under that species).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  wilsoni. Meranoplus wilsoni Schödl, 2007: 394, figs. 16, 17, 60, 88 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 5.35, HL 1.23, HW 1.41, FC 1.20, CS 1.32, SL 0.75, SI1 53, SI2 57, PML 1.03, PW 1.30, PMD 1.44, PMI2 111 ML 1.28, PTLL 0.38, PTLH 0.55, PTDW 0.45, PPLL 0.38, PPLH 0.58, PPI 65, PPDW 0.45, PT/PP 100.

Mandible with four teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus in full face view medially excavated, acutely bidentate, particularly laterally carinulate, moderately exceeding anterolateral frontal margins. Head moderately wider than long (CI 115), with preoccipital margin shallowly concave. Frontal carinae posteriorly almost parallel-sided, anteriorly broadly translucent and evenly narrowed towards clypeus, moderately narrower than head width (FI 118). Antennal scrobe reaching far beyond middle of lateral side of head, distinctly transversely carinulate in posterior half, only weakly demarcated from remainder of head at the rear. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head carinate to rugose, postocular section reticulate. Compound eyes moderately large (EL 0.25, REL 0.20, with 15 ommatidia in the longest row) situated at about middle of lateral sides of head, dorsal ocular margin almost touching ventral scrobal margin.

Promesonotum wider than long (PMI 127) and rather flat, outline distincly translucently margined, concealing lateral sides of mesosoma and propodeal declivity. Propodeal spines of medium length (PSL 0.53) situated above middle of length of declivity, acute and slightly arcuate when seen from above.

Petiole higher than long (PTI 68), in profile triangular with anterior face straight and unsculptured, posterior face convex, distinctly and regularly costate. Postpetiole elongately nodular, tapering towards base, with ventral medium sized tooth, rugose throughout. First gastral tergite with irregular microreticulum, with interspersed glossy spots, basally with additional carinulae. Dorsum of head only anteriorly rugose, from about level of eyes on rugo-reticulate. Promesonotal shield with coarse rugoreticlum. Dorsal surfaces covered with evenly distributed pilosity consisting of short decumbent and long, more or less erect outstanding stiff hairs, similar to that of preceding species.

Concolorous brown.

(n = 10). TL 4.60-5.35, HL 1.13-1.30, HW 1.26-1.70, FC 1.06-1.28, FI 114-121, CI 112-118, CS 1.20-1.39, SL 0.71-0.83, SI1 53-57, SI2 57-62, PML 0.9-1.2, PW 1.15-1.45, PMI 119-131, PMD 1.25-1.63, PMI2 109-112, ML 1.18-1.43, PSL 0.43-0.56, PTLL 0.33-0.38, PTLH 0.49-0.55, PTI 67-71, PTDW 0.43-0.55, PPLL 0.30-0.41, PPLH 0.50-0.63, PPI 60-66, PPDW 0.40-0.55, PT/PP 92-106, EL 0.21-0.25, REL 0.18-0.20, with 14-15 ommatidia in the longest row.

Etymology
Named for Prof. Edward O. Wilson, outstanding scientist and one of the pioneers of modern myrmecology.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Andersen A. N. 2006. A systematic overview of Australian species of the myrmicine ant genus Meranoplus F. Smith, 1853. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8: 157-170.