Meranoplus discalis Schoedl, 2007

Schoedl,, 2007, Revision of Australian Meranoplus: the Meranoplus diversus group., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 370-424 : 385-386

Meranoplus discalis Schoedl sp. n.

(Figs. 32, 33, 68, 86)

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 5.40, HL 1.35, HW 1.46, FC 1.18, CS 1.41, SL 0.73, SI 1 50, SI 2 52, PML 1.08, PW 1.30, PMD 1.50, PMI 2 115, ML 1.20, PTLL 0.39, PTLH 0.60, PTDW 0.51, PPLL 0.38, PPLH 0.38, PPI 67, PPDW 0.51, PT / PP 100.

Mandible with four blunt teeth. In full face view the clypeal projection a truncated flat to feebly vaulted shelve, not exceeding anterolateral frontal corners, with a sinuate anterior margin. Head only moderately wider than long (CI 108), preoccipital margin shallowly concave. Frontal carinae, distinctly sinuately narrowed towards clypeus (FI 124). Antennal scrobe in lateral view posteriorly surpassing middle of length of head, ending far before posterior corners, transversely carinulate at rear, posteriorly well defined from preoccipital section. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head carinate, preoccipital lobes reticulate to foveo-reticulate. Eyes of moderate size (EL 0.25, REL 0.19, with 14 ommatidia in the longest row), situated in front of middle of lateral sides of head. Head in posterior half distinctly reticulate, in between ridges of rugo-reticulation smooth and glossy.

Promesonotal shield wider than long (PMI 121), moderately vaulted; its surface coarsely and irregularly rugose to rugoreticulate, the meshes somewhat longitudinally orientated; both lateral sides and rear broadly translucently margined, posterolateral projections well developed, arcuately directed outwards, posterior projections short and triangular. Propodeal declivity overhung by mesonotal hind margin. Propodeal spines moderate in length related to body size (PSL 0.50) situated above middle of length of declivity, massive and straight and moderately diverging in dorsal view.

Petiole in lateral view distinctly higher than long (PTI 65), narrowly triangular with anterior face straight, meeting posterior face in an acute angle. Postpetiole elongately nodiform with a small anterio-basal tooth.

Gaster entirely microreticulate with glossy spots around hair pits. Surface covered with evenly distributed pilosity exsiting of shorter decumbent and longer more or less erect arcuate stiff hairs.

Distinctly bicolored with gaster and appendages ferrugineous and remainder of body piceous.

PARATYPE WORKERS (n = 2). TL 4.95, - 5.25, HL 1.28 - 1.33, HW 1.30 - 1.40, FC 1.08 - 1.13, FI 121 - 124, CI 102 - 106, CS 1.29 - 1.36, SL 0.68 - 0.72, SI 1 51 - 52, SI 2 52 - 53, PML 0.95 - 1.05, PW 1.18 - 1.28, PMI 121 - 124, PMD 1.35 - 1.48, PMI 2 115 - 116, ML 1.15 - 1.20, PSL 0.45 - 0.48, PTLL 0.35 - 0.38, PTLH 0.54 - 0.58, PTI 65, PTDW 0.46 - 0.49, PPLL 0.33 - 0.35, PPLH 0.53 - 0.55, PPI 62 - 64, PPDW 0.48 - 0.50, PT / PP 97 - 98, EL 0.23 - 0.24, REL 0.18, with 11 - 13 ommatidia in the longest row.

ETYMOLOGY

The name refers to the flat clypeal projection.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype worker, Queensland: 8 - 18 mi N. W. of \ Silver Plains Cape York , Q. May-June ' 58 Darlingtons \ gum forest ( MCZC). Paratypes. 2 workers, same data as holotype ( MCZC, NHMW) .

DISCUSSION

The paratypes resemble the holotype in all features. The characteristic clypeal structure separates M. discalis from all other related forms. Only known from the type locality, Cape York, Queensland.