Meranoplus digitatus 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 : 384-385

Meranoplus digitatus Schoedl sp. n.

(Figs. 30, 31, 67, 85)

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 6.30, HL 1.70, HW 1.88, FC 1.41, CS 1.79, SL 0.80, SI 1 43, SI 2 45, PML 1.15, PW 1.50, PMD 1.65, PMI 2 110, ML 1.38, PSL 0.70, PTLL 0.45, PTLH 0.63, PTI 72, PTDW 0.61, PPLL 0.43, PPLH 0.65, PPI 66, PPDW 0.61, PT / PP 100.

Mandible with three teeth. Clypeal projection similar to that of preceding species. Frontal carinae broad, distinctly sinuately narrowed towards clypeus (FI 123). Head wider than long (CI 110), preoccipital margin similar to that of preceding species. Antennal scrobe scarcely surpassing middle of lateral sides of head and posterior ocular margin, anteriorly glossy, transversely carinulate at rear, posteriorly indistinctly demarcated from remainder of head. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head rugose, preoccipital lobes reticulate-foveolate. Eyes relatively larger (EL 0.31, REL 0.18, with 19 ommatidia in the longest row), situated anteriorly to middle of lateral sides of head, dorsal ocular margin not reaching ventral scrobal margin. Head in posterior half distinctly reticulate to reticulate-foveolate, in between ridges of rugoreticulation with very faint microsculpture.

Promesonotal shield vaulted, distinctly wider than long (PMI 130), only pronotal lateral sides translucently margined, mesonotal posterolateral and posterior projections digitate, dorsally irregularly rugoreticulate, with the meshes elongate and longitudinally orientated. Propodeal declivity partly overhung by posterior mesonotal margin. Propodeal spines relatively long (PSL 0.70) situated above middle of length of declivity, straight, acute and moderately diverging when seen from above.

Petiole in lateral view higher than long (PTI 72), with anterior face straight, meeting convex posterior face in a crest. Postpetiole nodiform with a small anterio-basal tooth.

Gaster entirely microreticulate, with occasional glossy spots inbetween. Surface covered with evenly distributed pilosity consisting of shorter decumbent and longer more or less erect arcuate stiff hairs.

WORKERS (n = 9). TL 5.40 - 6.30, HL 1.40 - 1.70, HW 1.55 - 1.88, FC 1.20 - 1.41, FI 128 - 137, CI 107 - 112, CS 1.48 - 1.79, SL 0.71 - 0.80, SI 1 41 - 47, SI 2 43 - 48, PML 0.95 - 1.15, PW 1.26 - 1.50, PMI 130 - 138, PMD 1.33 - 1.60, PMI 2 103 - 111, ML 1.23 - 1.38, PSL 0.55 - 0.70, PTLL 0.36 - 0.45, PTLH 0.55 - 0.63, PTI 66 - 74, PTDW 0.48 - 0.61, PPLL 0.35 - 0.43, PPLH 0.50 - 0.65, PPI 64 - 75, PPDW 0.48 - 0.63, PT / PP 92 - 105, EL 0.26 - 0.31, REL 0.16 - 0.20, with 17 - 19 ommatidia in the longest row.

ETYMOLOGY

The name refers to the digitate projectons on the mesonotal hind margin.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype worker, New South Wales: ' N. S. W. Goolgowi 18. vii. 1979 BBLowery Red soil \ ANIC ANTS VIAL 68.123 ' ( ANIC). Paratypes. 8 workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, NHMW) .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED

New South Wales: Rata , 16. xii. 1965 (B. B. Lowery) ; CSIRO Lake Mere field stn ., nr. Louth, i. 1995 (M. Bryannah) ; Goolgowi , 18. vii. 1979 (B. B. Lowery) ; Condobolin , 11. i. 1967 (B. B. Lowery) ; 5 km W Merriwagga , 17. iv. 1978 (B. B. Lowery) ; Bogan R. (J. Armstrong) . Queensland: Merigol , various sites and pitfalls, iv. 2001 (T. Beutel). (113 workers, 7 gynes in ANIC, NHMW, QMBA) .

DISCUSSION

Distinct from both preceding taxa by the more or less digitate posterior mesonotal projections which only seldomly are fused by lamellate material. Rather uniformly ferrugineous with gaster and appendages usually only feebly brighter than remainder of body. Known from the Murray-Darling basin.