Abstract
The ant genus Meranoplus is reported for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) by the new species M. pulcher sp. n., based on the worker caste. Specimens were collected from Al Sarawat and Asir Mountains of southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using pitfall traps. Meranoplus pulcher sp. n. is included in the Afrotropical M. magretii-group, with greatest similarity to M. magrettii André from Sudan. A key to the Afrotropical species of the M. magretii-group is presented. A brief review of the ant taxa with Afrotropical affinities in southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is given.
Highlights
Since Smith [1] established the genus Meranoplus, 87 species and subspecies are currently included [2]. This genus is broadly distributed in the Old World tropics, ranging through the Afrotropical, Malagasy, Oriental, and Indo-Australian regions [3,4,5]
Meranoplus has been historically placed in the tribe Meranoplini, which includes the genera Dicroaspis Emery, 1908 and Calyptomyrmex Emery, 1887 [8]
The tribe Meranoplini was restricted to two genera, Meranoplus [9] and a fossil genus Parameranoplus Wheeler, 1915 [10]
Summary
Since Smith [1] established the genus Meranoplus, 87 species and subspecies are currently included [2]. This genus is broadly distributed in the Old World tropics, ranging through the Afrotropical, Malagasy, Oriental, and Indo-Australian regions [3,4,5]. Meranoplus has been historically placed in the tribe Meranoplini, which includes the genera Dicroaspis Emery, 1908 and Calyptomyrmex Emery, 1887 [8]. The tribe Meranoplini was restricted to two genera, Meranoplus [9] and a fossil genus Parameranoplus Wheeler, 1915 [10]. The Australian region is the most taxa rich in regard to the number of species [3,13]
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