Meranoplus nepalensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Schödl (1998) - Meranoplus nepalensis differs from other small, similar sized species by the pronotal shield not being armed with distinct spines, by the rugulose clypeus and by the excavated anterior clypeal margin.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Nepal.

Nomenclature

 *  nepalensis. Meranoplus nepalensis Schödl, 1998: 390, figs. 10, 24, 31 (w.q.) NEPAL.

Worker
Holotype: TL: 3.2, HL: 0.75, HW: 0.775, CI: 103, SL: 0.6, SI: 77, PML: 0.6, PW: 0.775, PMI: 125, AL: 0.75. Paratypes: TL: 3.0 - 3.3, HL: 0.7 - 0.79, HW: 0.7 - 0.83, CI: 100 - 1 12, SL: 0.55 - 0.61, SI: 70 - 78, PML: 0.58 - 0.68, PW: 0.75 - 0.81, PMI: 119 - 121, AL: 0.65 - 0.75 (20 measured).

Mandibles striate, armed with four teeth. Mid-portion of clypeus slightly concave, basally smooth and shiny, anteriorly distinctly reticulate, with numerous wrinkles. Anterior clypeal margin produced into a narrow, medially excavated apron. Frontal triangle apparent between posterior clypeal margin and frons, smooth and shining. Head above antennal scrobes almost parallel-sided posteriorly, the sides narrowed anteriorly towards clypeus. Ventral part of head (below the antennal scrobes) of similar shape, genae in full face view not protruding, thus invisible from above. Antennal scrobes smooth anteriorly, with occasional longitudinal carinulae and transverse rugae posteriorly. Genae reticulate-rugulose. Compound eyes situated behind middle of lateral sides of head, not close to posterior corners. Maximum diameter of eye 0.16 - 0.17, with 10-11 ommatidia in the longest row.

Promesonotum slightly wider than long, its margins overhanging sides of alitrunk laterally and propodeum posteriorly. Anterior pronotal corners acutely angled, produced into short stout teeth. Promesonotal shield at about level of (invisible) promesonotal suture with a more or less distinct translucent lamellate fenestra on each side which may reach the margin. Posteriorly to the fenestra the lateral margins protruding, followed by a constriction and an additional second translucent and equal sized fenestra. Posterior corners of mesonotum rectangular, posterior mesonotal margin with a pair of paramedian blunt, posteriorly directed short projections. Propodeum distinctly overhung by translucent lamella between posterior mesonotal projections. Declivity of propodeum smooth, with occasional longitudinal carinulae or rugae. Lateral propodeal spines rather long, acute and stout, situated distinctly above middle of propodeal length. No suture between dorsal alitrunk and propodeum is apparent on the propodeal declivity beneath mesonotal hind margin, when viewed from behind.

Petiole in lateral view considerably tapered from base to crest. Anterior petiolar face smooth. Posterior face behind the crest rugulose, remainder of declivity distinctly carinulate. Postpetiole nodiform in lateral view. First gastral tergite distinctly shagreened particularly so around hair-pits.

Dorsum of head reticulate, somewhat more rugulose anteriorly, width of meshes ca 30 - 70 μm. Promesonotal shield and postpetiole reticulate-rugulose above, width of meshes ca. 40 - 80 pm. Entire dorsum of individuals with suberect, somewhat irregular whitish pubescence (ca. 150 - 200 μm) and sparser long, outstanding hairs (ca 300 - 350 μm) Colour uniformly light brown (?callow workers) to dark brown, some specimens bicoloured with the head and gaster slightly darker than remaining body parts.

Queen
Schödl (1998) - Paratype: TL: 7.5, HL: 1.25, HW: 1.25, CI: 100, SL: 0.85, SI: 68, PW: 1.7, AL: 1.87; widest diameter of compound eye 0.36, with ca. 20 ommatidia in the (irregular) longest row. Distance between inner margins of lateral ocelli 0.42.

Type Material
Schödl (1998) - Holotype worker, "Gokarnaban 12.6.1976 \ Kathmandu \ Nepal, W.Wittmer C.Baroni Urbani" ; paratypes: 24 workers, 1 queen ("24.5.-21.6."), same locality data as holotype (NHMB,, , , ); 1 worker, "Godavari 1450m 25.5. \ Nepal, W. Wittmer C. Baroni Urbani 76 (NHMB); 1 worker, "Kokama b.Kathmandu Nepal Ig.H.Franz (NHMB); 3 workers, "Nepal-40: Prov. Kosi, Distr. Sankhuwasawa, Tumlingtar, 950mH, 26.04.1984, Leg. I. Lobl, A. Smetana (CASL, NHMW). Type locality: Gokarna Forest Reserve, 1350 m a.s.l., Kathmandu, Nepal.

Etymology
Named after the country of its origin.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.