Meranoplus

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - An genus with more than 80 species that are found in the Old World tropics. The African species of this genus nest in the ground, in rotten wood, or under stones (Bolton, 1981b). Foraging is performed primarily on the ground or in the leaf litter whereas only very few species may additionally climb up trees or shrubs (Bolton, 1981b). Anderson (2006) indicated that the Australian species of this genus are either omnivorous, opportunistically feeding on seeds, or specialised granivores. When disturbed they show a special ‘faking-death’ behaviour. They retract their antennae into the scrobes, tuck their legs under the promesonotal shield and remain motionless (Hölldobler, 1988).

Identification
Boudinot and Fisher (2013) - The delineation of the genus Meranoplus is relatively straightforward; the genus is highly derived and unambiguously defined by several synapomorphies. The genus has been revised and reviewed across its entire distribution over the past few decades (Australasian region: Anderson 2006, Schödl 2004, 2007, Taylor 1990, 2006; Ethiopian region: Bolton 1981; and Oriental region: Schödl 1998, 1999). The genus is diagnosed by the compact mesosoma, which is dorsolaterally and often posterodorsally produced, and by the nine-segmented antenna with a three-segmented club (Bolton 2003).

Identification Keys

 * Key to Meranoplus workers and queens of Madagascar
 * Key to Indian Meranoplus

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
Boudinot and Fisher (2013) - Species of this genus are predominantly ground-nesting and, when disturbed, will display thanatosis enhanced by crypsis, i.e., individuals will accumulate dirt in their pilosity and play dead (Dornhaus & Powell 2010). With respect to diet, most species are omnivores and facultative granivores, while others, including the whole Meranoplus diversus species group, are specialist granivores (Anderson 2000, 2006). At least one species, the Malaysian rainforest-dwelling Meranoplus mucronatus, is known to have a trophobiotic relationship with hemipterans (Maschwitz et al. 1987). Meranoplus species are known to be active both day and night (Gross et al. 1991), and to recruit via pheromone trails laid from the base of the sting using secretions from their extremely large Dufour glands (Hölldobler 1988; Billen et al. 2009; Billen & Taylor 1993). The function of the spatulate sting is still unknown (Kugler 1979). The only species of Meranoplus for which mating has been reported is Meranoplus peringueyi, in which mating swarms occurred after a rain and where males patrolled for the outnumbered females in a zig-zag manner (Robertson & Villet 1989; Schulmeister 2001).

Nomenclature

 *  MERANOPLUS [Myrmicinae: Meranoplini]
 * Meranoplus Smith, F. 1853: 224. Type-species: Cryptocerus bicolor, by subsequent designation of Bingham, 1903: 166.
 * TRICYTARUS [junior synonym of Meranoplus]
 * Tricytarus Donisthorpe, 1947d: 187. Type-species: Tricytarus parviumgulatus, by original designation.
 * Tricytarus unidenifiable taxon. Male-based genus, description inadequate. Type-material not present in California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, U.S.A., nor in The Natural History Museum, London, U.K., presumed lost: Bolton, 2003: 254.
 * Tricytarus junior synonym of Meranoplus: Boudinot, 2014: 96.