Meranoplus borneensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Schödl (1998) - Among the smaller species of Oriental region Meranoplus, Meranoplus borneensis is distinct by the shape of the promesonotal shield, the petiole, and the structure of the gaster. It shares an unarmed shield with Meranoplus malaysianus but differs in profile by the broader petiole, shagreened gaster, and secondary pilosity.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 * . Meranoplus borneensis Schödl, 1998: 377, figs. 5, 19, 30 (w.) BORNEO (East Malaysia: Sabah).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 18 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Malaysia: Sabah, Crtocker Range N.P., KK-Tambunan, 60 km., 1270 m., 17.v.1987, no. 29a (Burckhardt & Löbl); paratypes: 17 workers with same data, 1 worker with same data but 1600 m., 18.v.1987, no. 30.
 * Type-depositories: MHNG (holotype); BMNH, MHNG, NHMW (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 47.
 * Distribution: Malaysia (Sabah).

Worker
Holotype: TL: 3.0, HL: 0.75, HW: 0.75, CI: 100 SL- 48 SI- 64 PML: 0.55, PW: 0.7, PMI: 127, AL: 0.6.

Paratypes: TL: 2.55 - 3.0, HL: 0.63 - 0.75, HW: 0.68 - 0.75, CI- 100 - 107 SL- 0.45 - 0.5, SI: 63 - 69, PML: 0.53 - 0.58, PW: 0.63 - 0.75, PMI: 125 - 136, AL: 0.58 - 0.65 (13 measured).

Mandibles striate, armed with four teeth. Mid-portion of clypeus vertical, roughly reticulate-rugulose, only feebly concave; anterior clypeal margin produced into a narrow lamellate apron. Frontal triangle reduced to an arcuate glossy furrow with occasional rugae. Head above antennal scrobes rectangular, posteriorly parallel-sided, anteriorly sides of head narrowed towards clypeus. Posterior corners of head acutely angulate. Ventrally to the antennal scrobes head similarly shaped, thus genae not protruding, hardly visible when viewd from above. Frons on each side of posterior boarder of clypeus above antennal sockets with a hyaline, translucent fenestra. Genae rugulose-reticulate, antennal scrobes anteriorly without sculpture, posteriorly above eyes with transverse costulae. Compound eyes situated only slightly behind middle of lateral sides of head. Maximum diameter of eye 0.16-0.18, with 8-10 ommatidia in the longest row.

Promesonotum rectangular, wider than long, the promesonotal shield laterally distinctly margined and overhanging sides of alitrunk. Sides of promesonotal shield without any acute projections or spines, roughly crenulate. Anterior corners of pronotum acutely angled, almost rectangular. Lateral sides of pronotum parallel, at about level of (invisible) promesonotal suture the shield slightly constricted and with a transparent fenestra on each side. Mesonotum anteriorly parallel-sided as well, posteriorly angled and converging with a concavity. At level of the concavity near lateral sides with a second equal sized or slightly smaller fenestra. Hind margin of mesonotum undulated, medially with a wide transverse translucent area which overhangs the propodeum posteriorly. Declivity of propodeum glossy throughout, meeting the dorsum of alitrunk almost in a right angle. No suture between dorsum of alitrunk and propodeum is visible below the posterior mesonotal margin, when viewed from behind. Propodeal spines acute, short, situated at middle of length of propodeum.

Petiole in lateral view distinctly obliquely truncate, its anterior face shiny, the dorsum and lateral sides rugulose, the posterior face shining with a few rugae. Postpetiole nodiform, reticulate-rugulose. First gastral tergite entirely densely shagreened, when examined with higher magnification seen as a minute reticulum.

Frons anteriorly rugose, remainder dorsum of head and promesonotum densely reticulate- rugulose; mesonotum near posterior margin with few rugae. Width of meshes on head ca. 30 - 50 um on dorsal alitrunk ca. (30)40 - 70 ^m. Entire dorsal surface covered with a layer of whitish, rather stiff, erect to suberect pubescence of ca. 80-120 μm long hairs; the pubescence is surpassed by considerably longer, outstanding hairs (ca. 200 - 250 μm). Colour uniformly pale to dark brown, dorsum of head somewhat brighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker, "SABAH Crocker RG. NP KK-Tambunan \ 60 km. 17.V.87 Burckhardt 4- Lobl. 1270 m [overleaf:] 29a" ; 17 paratype workers, same locality data (MHNG,, ); 1 paratype worker, "SABAH: 1600 m. Crocker Range K.K.-Tambunan 18V 87 Lobl + Burckhardt [overleaf:] 30" (MHNG). Type locality: Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, E-Malaysia.

Etymology
At least one species in the genus should be named after the largest island in the Malay archipelago, Borneo.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
 * 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.