The Ants of Africa
Genus Meranoplus
Meranoplus nanus André

Meranoplus nanus André

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Gabon (Meranoplus nanus nov. sp., André, 1892a: 55, worker) collected by Mocquerys; worker only described (see Bolton, 1995) .


{Meranoplus nanus}André's (1892a) description is at {original description}. Bolton's modern description (1981a) is at {original description}

WORKER - TL 2.8-3.8 mm, HL 0.78-0.92, HW 0.74-0.86, SL 0.56-0.70, PW 0.80-0.90; distinguished as in key; especially propodeal spines separating it from inermis; colour mid to dark brown, usually gaster darker (Bolton, 1981a: 53, illustrated, lateral alitrunk and pedicel, promesonotal shield).

The description of a queen from Kindia, Guinea by Santschi (1914d: 351) was not mentioned by Bolton (1981a), although listed by Wheeler (1992: 888), but was a  Meranoplus inermis specimen.

Bolton (1981a) also reported findings from Zaïre, Haut Uele by L. Burgeon, and Katanga, Kanzanze by N. Leleup; also from Tanzania.


{Meranoplus nanus}The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0908928


{Meranoplus nanus}The photomontage of a worker from Gabon is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=00003134


Oxford University Museum specimens

Meranoplus nanus
B Taylor det.
Queen

South Africa
S Danflous


11.xii.2007
Kruger National Park
25°28'51" S
31°16'06" E
Pretoriuskop Rest Camp, Mpumalanga Province; 596m

1
{album}

{Meranoplus nanus queen}The photomontage is of a queen collected from South Africa, Kruger National Park, Pretoriuskop Rest Camp, Mpumalanga Province, S 25°28'51" E 31°16'06"; 596m; Sam Danflous, 11.xii.2007.

The overall characteristics, such as the profile of the predicel segments and the density and length of the pilosity, appear to fit with nanus but as the queen has never been reported, let alone described, I cannot be sure.

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© 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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