Meranoplus diversoides 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 : 388-389

Meranoplus diversoides Schoedl sp. n.

(Figs. 36, 37, 70, 83)

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 6.10, HL 1.65, HW 1.90, FC 1.35, CS 1.78, SL 0.89, SI 1 47, SI 2 50, PML 1.15, PW 1.50, PMD 1.68, PMI 2 112, ML 1.43, PSL 0.68, PTLL 0.48, PTLH 0.66, PTDW 0.56, PPLL 0.43, PPLH 0.68, PPI 63, PPDW 0.56, PT / PP 100.

Mandible with three teeth. Clypeus in full face view not exceeding anterolateral frontal corners, medially bidentate, medial dentate section with slight upward flexion, sunk into prolonged lateral frontal projections, with additional wrinkles or carinulae. Head distinctly wider than long (CI 115), preoccipital lobes bulbously rounded, rear margin of head concave. Frontal carinae distinctly sinuate and translucently margined anteriorly, distinctly narrower than head width (FI 141), anterolaterally extended into narrowly rounded projections exceeding clypeal fork. Antennal scrobe in lateral view surpassing middle of length of head, irregularly transversely carinulate in posterior half, with additional shagreening, ill defined near posterior section of head. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head rugose, posterior lateral corners of head reticulate. Compound eyes relatively small (EL 0.29, REL 0.17, with 17 ommatidia in the longest row), situated distinctly in front of middle of lateral sides of head, dorsal ocular margin not reaching ventral margin of antennal scrobe.

Promesonotum markedly wider than long (PMI 130), concealing lateral sides of mesosoma and propodeal declivity, translucently margined to a greater extent. Propodeal declivity above middle of its length with two long slender, in dorsal view feebly diverging slightly arcuated lateral spines.

Petiole higher than long (PTI 72) in profile broadly triangular, with anterior face straight and unsculptured, posterior face convex, distinctly and regularly costate. Postpetiole in profile dorsally nodiform, distinctly tapering towards base, with ventral medium sized tooth, rugose throughout.

First gastral tergite entirely microreticulate, basally with fine longitudinal costulae. Dorsum of head longitudinally costulate with additional rugulae and only few transverse meshes, behind level of eyes reticulate, interspaces with faint microsculpture. Promesonotal shield coarsely rugoreticulate. All dorsal surfaces with pilosity of decumbent curved hairs and longer more or less erect ones.

Color dark brown to brown, with the gaster and appendages brighter.

WORKERS (n = 10). TL 5.80 - 7.10, HL 1.41 - 1.76, HW 1.61 - 1.82, FC 1.26 - 1.49, FI 128 - 142, CI 111 - 120, CS 1.51 - 1.90, SL 0.79 - 0.93, SI 1 45 - 49, SI 2 49 - 52, PML 1.07 - 1.38, PW 1.40 - 1.65, PMI 120 - 131, PMD 1.53 - 1.88, PMI 2 109 - 116, ML 1.25 - 1.63, PSL 0.53 - 0.80, PTLL 0.41 - 0.53, PTLH 0.59 - 0.75, PTI 69 - 72, PTDW 0.56 - 0.68, PPLL 0.41 - 0.48, PPLH 0.63 - 0.78, PPI 61 - 67, PPDW 0.53 - 0.68, PT / PP 96 - 110, EL 0.24 - 0.31, REL 0.16 - 0.19, with 14 - 17 ommatidia in the longest row.

ETYMOLOGY

The name refers to the close relationship to M. diversus .

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype worker, Queensland: ' QLD Tambo airport 24 Oct 1979 RH Mew 1 [handwritten] \ Royce H. Mew collection [printed] \ AUSTRALIA Qld. Tambo 24 ° 53 ' S 146 ° 15 ' E 24. Okt 79; R. H. Mew [printed; subsequetly added locality label] ' ( SAMA). Paratypes. 10 workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, SAMA, NHMW).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED

Queensland: Collinsville , 3 km N Johnson-Johnson Farm, 28. ii. 2000 (Buschinger) ; Toowoomba , 4. v. 1951 (F. A. Perkins), ibid., picnic point & Prince Henry Dr. , 11. / 13. iv. 1962, 13. xii. 1973 (B. B. Lowery) ; Gatton , 12. ii. 51 (S. G. Grimmett) ; 8.5 km SW Mt. Hutton , 6. iii. 2002 (S. G. Wright) ; Gumbardo , mulga, iv. 2001 (T. Beutel) ; Merigol , iv. 2001, mulga (T. Beutel) ; St George's , nr. Balonne R. , 18. i. 1966 (B. B. Lowery), ibid., reddish soil plain, box pine scrub, 6. i. 1966 (B. B. Lowery) ; 15 km W Cloncurry , 12. v. 1980 (B. B. Lowery) ; 80 - 100 mi S. Sarina xii. 1956 - vi. 1958 (Darlingtons) ; ( Sarina to) Rockhampton , iii. 1958 (Darlingtons) . Northern Territory: 3 miles SW Alice Springs , 28. vi. 1951, mulga (W. L. Brown) ; Alice Springs , 26. xii. 2003 (A. Narendra) . (94 workers, 3 gynes in ANIC, MCZC, NHMW, QMBA, UQIC) .

DISCUSSION

M. diversoides is closest to M. diversus but easily separated by the less prominently developed clypeal structure. The species is found throughout Queensland and southernmost Northern Territory.