Meranoplus laeviventris

Collected from rainforest in Yunnan Province, China.

Identification
Schödl (1998) – Meranoplus laeviventris is the only Oriental species known from continental Asia to possess a quadrangular petiole in profile. This trait in addition to the dark colour and the shape of the promesonotum makes it distinctive from all its congeners.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  laeviventris. Meranoplus laeviventris Emery, 1889b: 506, pl. 10, fig. 16 (w.) MYANMAR. Senior synonym of punctulata: Schödl, 1998: 380.
 * punctulata. Meranoplus laeviventris var. punctulata Emery, 1895k: 472 (w.) MYANMAR. Junior synonym of laeviventris: Schödl, 1998: 380.

Worker
Schödl (1998) - TL: 4.1 - 4.5, HL: 0.98 - 1.07, HW: 0.95 - 1.05, CI: 93 - 100, SL: 0.75 - 0.8, SI: 73 - 80, PML: 0.6 - 0.8, PW: 0.75 - 0.85, PMI: 134 - 142, AL: 0.95 - 1.17 (15 measured).

Mandibles striate, armed with four teeth. Mid-portion of clypeus shining, concave, laterally with few rugae or wrinkles; anterior clypeal margin produced into a narrow entire apron. Frontal triangle a narrow, brilliant and striate, arcuate furrow between clypeus and frons. Head above antennal scrobes trapezoid, lateral sides evenly narrowed towards clypeus; ventral part of head (below antennal scrobes) wider, more rectangular, the genae thus distinctly protruding and visible from above. Antennal scrobes roughly carinulate, the genae rugulose. Compound eyes situated behind middle of lateral sides of head, not close to posterior corners. Maximum diameter of eye 0.19 - 0.23, with 13-14 ommatidia in its longest row. Dorsum of head anteriorly rugulose, towards occiput reticulate-rugulose, width of meshes ca. 50 - 80 μm.

Promesonotum slightly wider than long, distinctly converging posteriorly, provided with lateral and posterior projections. Margins of promesonotal shield overhanging sides of alitrunk laterally and propodeum posteriorly. Anterior pronotal corners produced into stout teeth followed by the sinuate pronotal margin. A distinct lateral constriction is situated at about the level of (invisible) promesonotal suture. At the same level a translucent fenestra on each side of the lateral margin is apparent. Posteriorly, the lateral margins of the mesonotum are provided with a blunt, massive projection on each side. Posterior mesonotal corners produced into short spines, directed ca. 45 from the shield, and on the posterior margin the mesonotum with a pair of paramedian straight, short spines. Declivity of propodeum brilliant throughout, with a very faint shagreening and occasional transverse or longitudinal rugae which especially are found beneath the posterior mesonotal margin between the propodeal spines. Long, considerably diverging propodeal spines situated high on the lateral sides of propodeum, distinctly above middle; when viewed in profile slightly arcuate. No suture between dorsal alitrunk and propodeum is apparent on the declivity when viewed from behind. Dorsum of promesonotum reticulate-rugulose, the meshes of about same size or slightly wider than those on head (ca. 50 - 80(100) μm). Petiole distinctly truncate, in lateral and dorsal view quadrangular. Anterior face of petiole without structure, the dorsum, sides and posterior face roughly rugulose, the posterior declivity near base somewhat more costulate. Postpetiole nodiform, reticulate throughout, width of meshes ca. 30 - 50 μm. First gastral tergite glabrous, occasionally with inconspicuous shagreening, especially anteriorly and around hair-pits ("punctulatus"). Pubescence of entire dorsum consisting of thin, whitish, moderately long hairs (ca. 200 - 300 μm) and few outstanding, distinctly longer (-400 μm) ones. Colour of a dark brown to piceous black, frequently the head, alitrunk, petiole and appendages somewhat brighter.

Type Material
Schödl (1998) - Lectotype worker, by present designation: "Tenasserim M. Mooleyit, 1000-1900 m. Fea. Apr. 1887 \ TYPUS \ Meranoplus laeviventris Em. n. sp \ Museo Civico di Geneva". 1 paralectotype worker. "Tenasserim. Kawkareet Fea. Maggio 1887. \ Meranoplus laeviventris Em \ Collect. G.Mayr \ laeviventris Emery, Type." in. Type locality: Tenasserim, Kawkareet, Myanmar.