Meranoplus loebli

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Schödl (1998) - The species is very distinctive by the foliaceous broad promesonotal shield and thus readily separable from all its other Oriental congeners.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 * . Meranoplus loebli Schödl, 1998: 384, figs. 13, 27, 32 (w.) SRI LANKA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 44 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Sri Lanka: Central Ceylon, Hasalaka, no. 59, 250 m., 11.ii.1970 (Mussard, Besuchet & Löbl); paratypes: 9 workers with same data, 8 workers Kandy, 600 m., no. 3c, 15.i.1970 (Löbl), 10 workers as last but no. 3a, 5 workers as last but 22.i.1970, 10 workers Peradeniya, 550 m., 19.i.1970 (Löbl), 1 worker Eastern Kantalai, no. 40, 2.ii.1970 (Löbl), 1 worker Horton Plains, 2100 m., 15.ii.1970 (Mussard, Besuchet & Löbl).
 * Type-depositories: MHNG (holotype); BMNH, MCZC, MHNG, NHMB, NHMW (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Dias, R.K.S. et al. 2020: 76.
 * Distribution: Sri Lanka.

Worker
Holotype: TL: 3.4, HL: 0.75, HW: 0.78, CI: 104, SL: 0.56, SI: 72. PML: 0.6, PW: 1.07, PMI: 179, AL: 0.78.

Paratypes: TL: 2.87 - 3.5, HL: 0.73 - 0.75, HW: 0.73 - 0.78, CI: 100 - 104, SL: 0.53 - 0.58, SI: 71 - 77, PML: 0.55 - 0.6, PW: 1.0 - 1.08, PMI: 178 - 191, AL: 0.65 - 0.78 (14 measured).

Mandibles striate, armed with four teeth. Mid-portion of clypeus rugulose-reticulate, slightly concave. Anterior clypeal margin produced into a lamellate, medially excavated apron. Frontal triangle reduced to an arcuate, rugose furrow between clypeus and frons. Head above antenal scrobes rectangular, posteriorly parallel-sided, slightly constricted above eyes; anteriorly the somewhat lamellate lateral frontal margins narrowed towards clypeus. Ventral part of head (below antenna! scrobes) except for protruding eyes concealed by lateral margins of frons, thus not visible from above. Antennal scrobes shagreened, posteriorly with transverse rugae. Genae reticulate-rugulose. Compound eyes situated behind middle of lateral sides of head rather close to posterior corners. Maximum diameter of eye 0.16-0.18, with 9-10 ommatidia in its longest row.

Promesonotum conspicuously wider than long, the lateral margins rounded, converging posteriorly. Lateral sides of promesonotal shield foliaceous, distinctly overhanging the alitrunk laterally and propodeum posteriorly. Anterior pronotal corners produced into stout, anteriorly projecting teeth. Posteriorly to these teeth the lateral margins considerably widened and finally sinuately converging. At about level of (invisible) promesonotal suture lateral margins feebly constricted, with a large lamellate, translucent fenestra. A second, slightly smaller or equal sized fenestra is situated at the lateral margin in front of posterior corners of the shield. Posterior corners of mesonotum produced into stout, acute, posteriorly directed projections. Hind margin provided with a pair of paramedian blunt teeth which reach about the same level as posterior mesonotal spines. Paramedian teeth surrounded by a translucent, well developed lamella. Declivity of propodeum smooth, at the antero-lateral corners with a few rugae. Lateral propodeal spines short and acute, situated in middle of propodeal length. The lateral parts of an arcuate suture between dorsal alitrunk and propodeum are apparent on top of the declivity immediately beneath the posterior mesonotal margin, when viewed from behind.

Petiole cuneate from base to crest, its anterior and posterior faces smooth. Postpetiole nodiform, rugulose except for anterior face. Entire first gastral tergite with a faint reticulate shagreening.

Dorsum of head and alitrunk strongly reticulate-rugulose, width of meshes on head ca. 20 - 60 μm, on promesonotal shield ca. 50 - 80(120). Pubescence consisting of suberect, thin, whitish hairs of variable length between ca. 150 – 300 μm additional very long (0.4 - 0.5 mm) hairs. Unfortunately, in most specimens the pilosity is either in very bad condition or abraded. Most individuals are bicoloured with the gaster dark brown and the remainder of body brightly ferugineous.

Type Material
Holotype worker. "Ceylan Central 59 Hasalaka m 250 \ 11.2.1970 Lobl \ MERANOPLUS \ Ceylan 59 Central HASALAKA 11.11.70 m 250 MUSSARD BESUCHET LOBL"; paratypes: 9 workers, same locality data as holotype (,, , MHNG, ); 8 workers. "Ceylan Central Kandy m 600 3c \ 15.1.1970 Lobl" (MHNG, NHMW); 10 workers, "Ceylan Central 18 Kandy m 600 3a\ 15.1.1970" (MHNG, NHMW); 5 workers, "Ceylan Central 18 Kandy m 600 \ 22.1.1970 Lobl" (MHNG, NHMW); 10 workers, "Ceylan Central 10 Peradeniya m 550 \ 19.1.1970 Lobl" (MHNG. NHMW); 1 worker Ceylan Eastern Kantalai 40 \ 2.2.1970 Lobl" (MHNG); 1 worker, "Ceylan Central 68 Horton Plains m 2100 \ 15.2.1970 Lobl \ MERANOPLUS \ CEYLAN 68 Central HORTON PLAINS 15.11.70 m 2100 MUSSARD BESUCHET LOBL" (MHNG). Type locality: Hasalaka, Central, Sri Lanka.

Etymology
Named for Dr. I. Lobl, one of the co-collectors of this interesting new species, who also kindly provided the author with numerous additional material.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Gumawardene, N.R., J.D. Majer and J.P. Edirisinghe. 2008. Diversity and richness of ant species in a lowland wet forest reserve in Sri Lanka. Asian Myrmecology 2:71-83
 * Gunawardene N. R., J. D. Majer, and J. P. Edirisinghe. 2008. Diversity and richness of ant species in a lowland wet forest reserve in Sri Lanka. Asian Myrmecology 2: 71-83.
 * Schödl S. 1998. Taxonomic revision of Oriental Meranoplus F. Smith, 1853 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. B, Botanik, Zoologie 100: 361-394.