Key to Oriental Meranoplus

This worker key is based on: Schödl, S. 1998. Taxonomic revision of Oriental Meranoplus F. Smith, 1853 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. Serie B, Für Botanik und Zoologie. 100:361-394 with an addition from: [[Media:Schodl 1999.pdf|Schödl, S. 1999. Description of Meranoplus birmanus sp. nov. from Myanmar, and the first record of M. bicolor from Laos (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological Problems. 30: 61-65 PDF]]

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Meranoplus







1

 * Petiolar crest distinctly bidentate, postpetiole with an acute, posteriorly directed short spine (Figs. 16, 17). Mandibles with five teeth. Posterior mesonotal margin not, or only slightly overhanging the propodeum, the latter constituting a part of the dorsal alitrunk . . . . . 2


 * Petiole never bidentate and postpetiole never with a short spine dorsally. Mandibles with four teeth, sometimes with an additional basal offset denticle. Posterior mesonotal margin usually distinctly overhanging the propodeum, the latter meeting the dorsum of the alitrunk almost at a right angle . . . . . 3

2
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between mesonotum and propodeum situated in the angle, where mesonotum and propodeum meet. Dorsal surface of first gastral tergite smooth and brilliant except for shagreened hair-pits. SW-India. . . . . Meranoplus bellii
 * Propodeum never overhung by the posterior mesonotal margin (Fig. 2). Suture


 * Propodeum slightly overhung by the posterior translucent margin of promesonotal shield (Fig. 3). Suture between mesonotum and propodeum below protruding mesonotal hind margin. Dorsal surface of first gastral tergite dull, entirely shagreened. Thailand, Malaysia . . . . . Meranoplus castaneus

3
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 * Mandibles with five teeth, the basal tooth offset. Dorsal surfaces of head and promesonotum smooth, additionally distinctly carinulate. Southern India, Sri Lanka (Figs. 9, 23) . . . . . Meranoplus levis

Mandibles with four teeth. Dorsum of head and promesonotum always reticulate- rugulose . . . . . 4

4
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 * Promesonotal shield armed with a very long, acute spine at each corner. (Figs. 1, 15, 29). Large species (HL 1.4 - 1.7, TL 5.8 - 7.1). Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia . . . . . Meranoplus mucronatus


 * Promesonotal shield without or with different armament, never with such long spines at the corners of the promesonotal shield. Distinctly smaller species (HL < 1.18, TL<5) . . . . . 5

5
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 * Promesonotal shield rectangular, lacking any armament (Figs. 4, 5). Small species (TL<3.0) . . . . . 6


 * Promesonotal shield always with conspicuous, specific outstanding projections. Small to medium sized species (TL 3.0 - 4.5 mm) . . . . . 7

6
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 * Petiole distinctly obliquely truncate. Dorsum of gaster distinctly shagreened. Pilosity consisting of short pubescence and longer outstanding hairs (Figs. 5, 19). Sabah, E-Malaysia . . . . . Meranoplus borneensis


 * Petiolar crest only narrowly truncate. Dorsum of gaster either entirely smooth or occasionally with shagreening. Pilosity on dorsal surfaces consisting of a pelt of equal sized, short hairs (Figs. 4, 18). Malaysia, Indonesia . . . . . Meranoplus malaysianus

7
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 * Promesonotum with only one pair of posteriorly directed mesonotal spines, without additional postero-lateral and/or posterior paramedian mesonotal projections. (Figs. 6, 7a, b) . . . . . 8


 * Promesonotum of different shape, always with additional postero-lateral and/or posterior paramedian mesonotal projections . . . . . 9

8
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 * Small species (HL 0.65 - 0.80). Promesonotal shield with a pair of posteriad directed shorter, blunt or acute projections in the posterior mesonotal comers. Dorsal surfaces and appendages without extremely long hairs (Figs. 7a, b, 21a, b). India, Nepal, Bhutan . . . . . Meranoplus rothneyi


 * Larger species (HL 0.79 - 0.96). Promesonotal shield with a single pair of posteriorly directed longer spines in the posterior mesonotal comers. Dorsal surfaces and appendages with long hairs (Figs. 6, 20) . . . . . 8a

8a
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 * Dorsal surfaces of head and promesonotal shield rugose to rugulose-reticulate; petiole in lateral view ± an equilateral triangle (PTI 93 - 100) . . . . . Meranoplus bicolor


 * Dorsal surfaces of head and promesonotal shield shiny, with rugae and costulae, petiole in lateral view distinctly narrower (PTI 73 - 84) . . . . . Meranoplus birmanus

9
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 * Outline of lateral margins of promesonotum convex in dorsal view; each margin with two large translucent fenestrae (Fig. 13); conspicuously wider than long, foliaceous (PMI 178 - 191). Sri Lanka . . . . . Meranoplus loebli


 * Lateral margins of promesonotum in dorsal view not convex in outline, with lateral constrictions; margins never provided with four translucent fenestrae of that size; promesonotal shield less wide (PMI 134 - 155), rectangular or narrowed towards hind margin, never as foliaceous . . . . . 10

10
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 * Alitrunk in dorsal view rectangular; lateral margins parallel-sided with a weak constriction at the level of lateral fenestrae (Figs. 12, 14) . . . . . 11


 * Alitrunk in dorsal view not rectangular, lateral margins never parallel-sided, conspicuously narrowed towards hind margin, with distinct lateral constrictions at the level of lateral fenestrae (Figs. 8, 10, 11) . . . . . 12

11
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 * Hind margin of mesonotum sinuate, with blunt rounded projections, lacking distinct spines (Fig. 14). Anterior margin of clypeal mid-portion produced into a serrate apron. Philippines: Biliran Island . . . . . Meranoplus biliran


 * Hind margin of mesonotum with distinct acute paramedian spines (Fig. 12). Anterior margin of clypeal mid-portion produced into an entire, narrow apron. Borneo (Fig. 30) . . . . . Meranoplus montanus

12
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 * Petiole in profile distinctly truncate dorsally. Promesonotal shield with one pair of translucent fenestrae (Figs. 8, 22). Larger species (HL 0.98 - 1.07, TL 4.1 - 4.5). Myanmar, Thailand . . . . . Meranoplus laeviventris


 * Petiole in profile cuneate dorsally. Promesonotal shield with two pairs of translucent fenestrae. Distinctly smaller species (HL 0.7 - 0.83, TL 3.0 - 3.4) . . . . . 13

13
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 * Promesonotal shield with distinct spine-like postero-lateral and posterior projections (Figs. 11, 25). Anterior margin of clypeal mid-portion denticulate. Sri Lanka . . . . . Meranoplus boltoni 


 * Promesonotal shield with spine-like projections only posteriorly (Figs. 10, 24). Anterior margin of clypeal mid-portion produced into a narrow, medially excavated apron. Nepal . . . . . Meranoplus nepalensis