Boudinot, B.E.

Rediscovery of Tricytarus Donisthorpe, 1947, a new genus-level synonym of Meranoplus F. Smith, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

The male-based genus Tricytarus Donisthorpe, 1947 is rediscovered and synonymized with the genus Meranoplus F. Smith, 1853 syn.n. A neotype is designated for Meranoplus parviumgulatus (Donisthorpe, 1947) comb.n. which is documented to occur sympatrically with the very similar species M. niger Donisthorpe, 1949. Morphometrics and a differential diagnosis are provided for the first time for both species, and the male genitalia of several Meranoplus species are contrasted, with notes on the identification of M. parviumgulatus and M. niger. Micrographs are provided for both M. parviumgulatus and M. niger, including images of select genitalic sclerites.

Open access, licensed under CC BY 4.0. © 2014 The Author(s).

Male, genitalia, Indomalayan region, Australasian region, Meranoplini, taxonomy.