Meranoplus naitsabes 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 : 383-384

Meranoplus naitsabes Schoedl sp. n.

(Figs. 28, 29, 66, 84)

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 5.70, HL 1.53, HW 1.65, FC 1.28, CS 1.59, SL 0.75, SI 1 45, SI 2 47, PML 1.02, PW 1.30, PMD 1.38, PMI 2 106, ML 1.30, PSL 0.58, PTLL 0.40, PTLH 0.58, PTDW 0.52, PPLL 0.40, PPLH 0.54, PPI 74, PPDW 0.52, PT / PP 100.

Mandible with three teeth. Clypeal projection very similar to that of preceding species, with lateral teeth less produced. Head moderately wider than long (CI 108), preoccipital margin shallowly though still markedly concave. Frontal carinae more evenly and less sinuately narrowed towards clypeus (FI 129). Antennal scrobe not surpassing middle of lateral sides of head as far as in convexius, anteriorly glossy, distinctly transversely carinulate at rear, posteriorly indistinctly demarcated from remainder of head. Genae and ventrolateral sides of head rugose, preoccipital lobes reticulate. Eyes relatively larger (EL 0.29, REL 0.19, with 17 ommatidia in the longest row), situated in front of middle of lateral sides of head, dorsal ocular margin not reaching ventral scrobal margin. Head in posterior half distinctly reticulate, between ridges of rugo-reticulation with faint microsculpture.

Promesonotal shield wider than long (PMI 127) with regular reticulation, lateral sides only very narrowly translucently margined, projections less developed as in preceding species. Propodeal declivity overhung by posterior mesonotal margin, only partly visible from above. Propodeal spines long in relation to body size (PSL 0.58) situated above middle of length of declivity, acute and moderately diverging when seen from above.

Petiole in lateral view more or less triangular, higher than long (PTI 70), with anterior face straight, meeting convex to sinuate posterior face in a crest. Postpetiole nodiform with a small anterio-basal tooth.

First gastral tergite entirely microreticulate, basally with additional carinulae. Pilosity similar to that of preceding species.

Most workers are slightly bicolored with the gaster and appendages usually ferrugineous and the remainder of body brown.

WORKER (n = 6). TL 5.05 - 5.70, HL 1.35 - 1.53, HW 1.48 - 1.65, FC 1.13 - 1.28, FI 125 - 131, CI 107 - 110, CS 1.41 - 1.6, SL 0.74 - 0.78, SI 1 45 - 50, SI 2 47 - 52, PML 1.0 - 1.08, PW 1.20 - 1.33, PMI 119 - 127, PMD 1.29 - 1.45, PMI 2 106 - 109, ML 1.20 - 1.35, PSL 0.54 - 0.63, PTLL 0.35 - 0.40, PTLH 0.51 - 0.65, PTI 62 - 71, PTDW 0.48 - 0.55, PPLL 0.33 - 0.40, PPLH 0.50 - 0.56, PPI 65 - 76, PPDW 0.48 - 0.55, PT / PP 100 - 105, EL 0.25 - 0.29, REL 0.18 - 0.19, with 17 - 18 ommatidia in the longest row.

ETYMOLOGY

An anagram based on the name of my son Sebastian, who occasionally joins me on entomological trips and does some real good collecting — in particular crickets and flies.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype worker, Northern Territory: ' NT Barrow Creek 5 km NE 21.29 S 133.35 E 10 / 10 / 81 135 b D. Davidson / S. Morton' ( ANIC). Paratypes. 5 workers, same data as holotype; 12 workers with same locality data but ' 135 a' and ' 135 c' ( ANIC, NHMW) .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED

Northern Territory: Tanami Desert , 20. v. 1986 (P. J. M. Greenslade) ; 40 km W Wave Hill , 14. ix. 1981 (D. Davidson / S. Morton). (25 workers in ANIC, NHMW) .

DISCUSSION

This species is known only from arid portions of Northern Territory.