A taxonomic revision of the Meranoplus F. Smith of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) with keys to species and diagnosis of the males.
Boudinot, B. E.
B. L. Fisher
Zootaxa
2013
3635
4
301
339
3ZTCP
Insecta
Formicidae
Meranoplus
CoL
Animalia
Hymenoptera
11
312
Arthropoda
species
nanus
The following characters set the species of the M. nanusgroup apart among the Afrotropical species-group schemata of Bolton (1981)and the Oriential species from Schoedl(1998, 1999); unique character states for the M. nanusgroup among the Afrotropical and Oriental species are italicized:
1. Four mandibular teeth. 2. Promesonotum broader than long, with length measured from apices of anterolateral to posterolateral denticles. 3. Promesonotal shield overhanging pleurae laterally. 4. Promesonotal shield overhanging propodeum posteriorly. 5. Promesonotal-propodeal suture distinct and strongly arched medially. 6. Propodeal spines absent through well-developed. 7. Petiole narrow-cuneate; without spines or teeth dorsally. 8. Anterior and posterior faces of petiole smooth and shining. 9. Lateral face of petiole with one or two longitudinal curvaceous carinae which extend posteriorly from above the spiracle and join with the posterior collar. 10. Postpetiole squamiform to nodiform; never cuboid nor with a posteriorly-directed process. 11. Fourth abdominal sclerites with stellate setiferous punctures.