Meranoplus deserticola

Occuring in arid central Australia.

Identification
Schödl (2007) - Variability in this species becomes apparent in the rugosity of the shield. Occasionally the dorsal ocular margin may be confluent with the ventral scrobal margin. Specimens from South Australia are somewhat more shiny. Closest related to Meranoplus crassispina but different by the features given below under that taxon.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Meranoplus deserticola Schödl, 2007: 392, figs. 22, 23, 63, 81 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 14 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Australia: Northern Territory, Valley of Winds, The Olgas, 25.18°S, 130.44°E, 18.xi.1977, ANIC ants vial 42.37 (J.E. Feehan, T.A. Weir); paratypes: 7 workers with same data, 7 workers with same data but ANIC ants vial 44.232.
 * Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, NHMW (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Australia.

Worker
Holotype. TL 6.85, HL 1.50, HW 1.73, FC 1.36, CS 1.61, SL 0.93, SI1 54, SI2 57, PML 1.25, PW 1.48, PMD 1.60, PMI2 108, ML 1.68, PTLL 0.44, PTLH 0.65, PTDW 0.55, PPLL 0.41, PPLH 0.73, PPI 57, PPDW 0.55, PT/PP 100.

Mandible with four teeth. Clypeus carinulate, in full face view bluntly bidentate, scarcely surpassing anterolateral frontal projections. Frontal carinae rather broadly and distinctly sinuately narrowed towards clypeus (FI 127). Head wider than long (CI 115), posterior preoccipital margin very shallowly concave only. Antennal scrobe surpassing middle of lateral sides of head, glossy with additional distinct transverse carinulae at rear, merging weakly defined into posterior section of head. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head carinate, preoccipital corners reticulate. Eyes relatively larger (EL 0.32, REL 0.21, with 19 ommatidia in the longest row), situated at about middle of lateral sides of head, dorsal ocular margin very close to ventral scrobal margin. Frons rather evenly longitudinally carinate, head only posteriorly reticulate. Promesonotal shield vaulted, with somewhat angulate profile, moderately wider than long (PMI 118), lateral sides narrowly translucently margined.

Pronotum anteriorly reticulate, remainder of shield longitudinally rugose, with few cross meshes. Propodeal declivity partly overhung by posterior mesonotal margin. Propodeal spines moderate long (PSL 0.50) situated above middle of length of declivity, straight, acute and moderately diverging when seen from above.

Petiole in lateral view triangular (PTI 67), with anterior face straight, meeting broadly convex posterior face in a crest. Postpetiole elongately nodiform with a rather large antero-basal tooth.

Gaster entirely microreticulate, with occasional glossy spots inbetween. Surface covered with evenly distributed pilosity consisting of short decumbent and long, more or less erect outstanding stiff hairs.

(n = 7). TL 6.10-6.90, HL 1.43-1.55, HW 1.65-1.80, FC 1.30-1.41, FI 125-129, CI 113-118, CS 1.54-1.68, SL 0.90-0.98, SI1 53-55, SI2 56-59, PML 1.20-1.30, PW 1.40-1.55, PMI 110-124, PMD 1.55-1.75, PMI2 108-113, ML 1.55-1.68, PSL 0.45-0.50, PTLL 0.43-0.48, PTLH 0.60-0.68, PTI 67-73, PTDW 0.53-0.61, PPLL 0.40-0.48, PPLH 0.68-0.75, PPI 57-63, PPDW 0.51-0.61, PT/PP 95-107, EL 0.29-0.34, REL 0.20-0.22, with 17-19 ommatidia in the longest row.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Northern Territory: '25.18S 130.44E NT. Valley of Winds The Olgas, 18 Nov. 1977 J.E. Feehan \ associated collector T.A. Weir \ ANIC ANTS VIAL 42.37'. Paratypes. 7 workers, same data as holotype; 7 workers, same data as holotype but 'ANIC ANTS VIAL 44.232' (ANIC, ).

Etymology
The name refers to the preferred habitat.