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Monomorium
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Monomorium Mayr HNS , 1855
Taxonomy. The genus Monomorium HNS is assigned to the Solenopsis HNS genus group of the tribe Solenopsidini HNS (Bolton 2003). The concept of the genus was revised by Bolton (1987), and was recently widened by Heterick (2003) and Fernández (2007). Workers of Vietnamese species have the following features.
Zootaxa 2878 © 2011 Magnolia Press ·
Worker caste monomorphic or polymorphic; head in full-face view subrectangular, with rounded posterior corners; frontal lobe in full-face view narrow, just concealing antennal insertion, not extending posteriorly as a frontal carina, moderately or narrowly separated by posteromedian part of clypeus; antennal scrobe absent; median portion of clypeus expanded anteriad, with a straight anteromedian margin, usually defined laterally by clypeal carinae; median clypeal seta present; mandible narrow; masticatory margin with apical and 2 subapical teeth usually followed by a small or inconspicuous tooth, but sometimes by 1 or 2 distinct teeth (thus the margin 3- to 5-toothed); antenna 11- or 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; eye medium to small in size (rarely reduced to a single ommatidium); promesonotum in lateral view usually weakly raised; promesonotal suture completely absent dorsally; metanotal suture usually a deeply impressed groove on dorsum; propodeum unarmed, but rarely with posterodorsal angles; propodeal lobe absent or indistinct, but sometimes roundly expanded; petiole pedunculate anteriorly and with distinct node; postpetiole much shorter than petiole, in dorsal view almost as broad as or a little broader than petiolar node; gastral shoulder weak or indistinct, but sometimes well developed; first gastral tergite largely overlapping first gastral sternite.
The worker of Monomorium HNS is similar to those of Anillomyrma HNS (see under Anillomyrma HNS ), Cardiocondyla HNS (see under Cardiocondyla HNS ) and Solenopsis HNS , and to the minor workers of Pheidole HNS and Pheidologeton HNS . However, in the worker of Solenopsis HNS the antennal club is 2-segmented. In the minor of Pheidole HNS the median clypeal seta is absent, the masticatory margin of mandible has 6 or more teeth/denticles, and propodeal spines are usually (but not always) present. In the minor of Pheidologeton HNS the antennal club is 2-segmented, the median clypeal seta is absent, and propodeum is always armed with spines or denticles.
Vietnamese species. Two species have been described from Vietnam: annamense Donisthorpe (type locality: Da Lat) and silvestrii Wheeler HNS (type locality: Yen Bay; other locality: Va n Phu). Ten additional species have been recognized by us from Vietnam: chinense Santschi [= sp. eg-6] (Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Tam Dao); floricola (Jerdon) [= sp. eg-7] (Que Phong, Pu Mat); hiten Terayama [= sp. eg-3] (Ba Be, Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Tam Dao, Tay Yen Tu, V a n B a n); pharaonis HNS (Linnaeus) [= sp. eg-4] (Ba Be, Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Nui Chua, Pu Mat, Quang Tri, Tam Dao); sechellense Emery [= sp. eg-5] (Ba Vi, Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu, Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat); sp. eg-1 [= sp. 9 of SKY: Eguchi et al. 2005] (Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat, Tam Dao, Tay Yen Tu, Van Ban); sp. eg-2 [= sp. 1 of SKY: Yamane et al., 2003] (Ba Be, Cuc Phuong, Tay Yen Tu); sp. eg-8 (Nam Cat Tien, Phu Quoc, Pu Mat); sp. eg-9 (Nui Chua); sp. eg-10 (Nui Chua, Phu Quoc).
Bionomics. Monomorium HNS species are found in various habitats such as bare lands, grasslands, forest edges and well-developed forests. Their nests are usually found under stones and in soil. Most species forage on the ground, but some, such as M. sechellense HNS , forage both on and under the ground (Eguchi & Bui 2009).
- Eguchi, K., Viet, B. T., Yamane, S. (2011): Generic synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), Part I - Myrmicinae and Pseudomyrmicinae. Zootaxa 2878, 1-61: 19-20, URL:http://antbase.org/ants/publications/23462/23462.pdf
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| Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation. |
| Source | http://treatment.plazi.org/id/D1723D1A2A4FE5EDD9C04791F5BF1719 |
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Genus Monomorium Mayr HNS
Leaving aside introduced species, the Nearctic Monomorium HNS belong to the taxonomically vexing minimum-group HNS , revised by DuBois in 1986. Several of the species recognized by DuBois (1986) are problematic, and parts of his keys to workers and queens are unusable. Here I deal only with the two taxa recorded from California: M. wheelerorum DuBois HNS is considered to be a junior synomym of M. ergatogyna Wheeler HNS ( syn. nov. ) because the putative differences between the two “species” cannot be verified. A key distinguishing feature is said to be the lateral profile of the scutum and scutellum of the queen: flat or slightly depressed in M. wheelerorum HNS and convex in M. ergatogyna HNS . In populations from northern California, however, this character shows continuous variation between these two conditions, even among queens from the same nest (the species is polygynous). Other supposed queen and worker differences disappear when intra- and interpopulation variation are taken into account. A modern systematic treatment of the M. minimum-group HNS is badly needed. Because the queens are apterous in most western populations, interpopulation differentiation is expected to be accentuated, a factor that needs to be considered in any taxonomic study.
- Ward, P. S. (2005): A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 936, 1-68: 14-14, URL:http://antbase.org/ants/publications/21008/21008.pdf
| License | Public Domain |
| Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation. |
| Source | http://treatment.plazi.org/id/814FCDFB030F86E51E7F99CEB8E58876 |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 10
Species With Barcodes: 1
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
Taxonomy. The genus Monomorium is assigned to the Solenopsis genus group of the tribe Solenopsidini (Bolton 2003). The concept of the genus was revised by Bolton (1987), and was recently widened by Heterick (2003) and Fernández (2007). Workers of Vietnamese species have the following features.
Worker caste monomorphic or polymorphic; head in full-face view subrectangular, with rounded posterior corners; frontal lobe in full-face view narrow, just concealing antennal insertion, not extending posteriorly as a frontal carina, moderately or narrowly separated by posteromedian part of clypeus; antennal scrobe absent; median portion of clypeus expanded anteriad, with a straight anteromedian margin, usually defined laterally by clypeal carinae; median clypeal seta present; mandible narrow; masticatory margin with apical and 2 subapical teeth usually followed by a small or inconspicuous tooth, but sometimes by 1 or 2 distinct teeth (thus the margin 3- to 5-toothed); antenna 11- or 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; eye medium to small in size (rarely reduced to a single ommatidium); promesonotum in lateral view usually weakly raised; promesonotal suture completely absent dorsally; metanotal suture usually a deeply impressed groove on dorsum; propodeum unarmed, but rarely with posterodorsal angles; propodeal lobe absent or indistinct, but sometimes roundly expanded; petiole pedunculate anteriorly and with distinct node; postpetiole much shorter than petiole, in dorsal view almost as broad as or a little broader than petiolar node; gastral shoulder weak or indistinct, but sometimes well developed; first gastral tergite largely overlapping first gastral sternite.
The worker of Monomorium is similar to those of Anillomyrma (see under Anillomyrma ), Cardiocondyla (see under Cardiocondyla ) and Solenopsis , and to the minor workers of Pheidole and Pheidologeton . However, in the worker of Solenopsis the antennal club is 2-segmented. In the minor of Pheidole the median clypeal seta is absent, the masticatory margin of mandible has 6 or more teeth/denticles, and propodeal spines are usually (but not always) present. In the minor of Pheidologeton the antennal club is 2-segmented, the median clypeal seta is absent, and propodeum is always armed with spines or denticles.
Vietnamese species. Two species have been described from Vietnam: annamense Donisthorpe (type locality: Da Lat) and silvestrii Wheeler (type locality: Yen Bay; other locality: Va n Phu). Ten additional species have been recognized by us from Vietnam: chinense Santschi [= sp. eg-6] (Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Tam Dao); floricola (Jerdon) [= sp. eg-7] (Que Phong, Pu Mat); hiten Terayama [= sp. eg-3] (Ba Be, Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Tam Dao, Tay Yen Tu, V a n B a n); pharaonis (Linnaeus) [= sp. eg-4] (Ba Be, Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Nui Chua, Pu Mat, Quang Tri, Tam Dao); sechellense Emery [= sp. eg-5] (Ba Vi, Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu, Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat); sp. eg-1 [= sp. 9 of SKY: Eguchi et al. 2005] (Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat, Tam Dao, Tay Yen Tu, Van Ban); sp. eg-2 [= sp. 1 of SKY: Yamane et al., 2003] (Ba Be, Cuc Phuong, Tay Yen Tu); sp. eg-8 (Nam Cat Tien, Phu Quoc, Pu Mat); sp. eg-9 (Nui Chua); sp. eg-10 (Nui Chua, Phu Quoc).
Bionomics. Monomorium species are found in various habitats such as bare lands, grasslands, forest edges and well-developed forests. Their nests are usually found under stones and in soil. Most species forage on the ground, but some, such as M. sechellense , forage both on and under the ground (Eguchi & Bui 2009).
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| Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions |
| Source | http://antbase.org/ants/publications/23462/23462.pdf |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
Monomorium Mayr, 1855: 452. Type-species: Monomorium monomorium Bolton , 1987: 287.
Phacota Roger, 1862: 260. Type species: Phacota sichelli Roger , 1862: 262. Synonym of Monomorium : Ettershank, 1966: 82. Genus revalidated: Bolton, 1987: 281. Syn. rev.
Nothidris Ettershank, 1966: 105. Type-species: Monomorium latastei Emery , 1895: 10. Syn. n.
Antichthonidris Snelling, 1975: 5. Type-species: Monomorium denticulatum Mayr , 1887: 614. Junior synonym of Monomorium : Heterick, 2001: 361.
Epelysidris Bolton, 1987: 279. Type-species: Epelysidris brocha Bolton , 1987: 280. Syn. n.
For a full list of synonymies before Heterick (2001) see Bolton (1987: 287 - 288).
WORKER DIAGNOSIS (after Bolton, 1987: 289; Heterick, 2001: 363 - 364).
Monomorphic to polymorphic. Minute to moderately large in total length. Mandibles with 4 to 5 teeth. Maxillary palps with 2 to 4 segments. Median clypeal seta present, sometimes displaced or absent. Median portion of clypeus raised, longitudinally bicarinate, the carinae rarely effaced. Frontal carinae absent past frontal lobes. Antennal scrobes absent. Antennae with 11 - 12 segments and with club of 3 (rarely 4) segments. Eyes present, sometimes reduced. Metapleural glands never bulging or hypertrophied. Metapleural lobes usually small, rounded. Propodeum normally unarmed, sometimes angulated to dentate, rarely with lamelliform process. Propodeal spiracle usually circular and at about midlength of the sclerite, rarely in another position. Petiole pedunculated, the petiolar spiracle usually close to or at node. Sting functional.
Nothidris was created by Ettershank (1966) and further delimited by Snelling (1975), who created Antichthonidris to accomodate some species. Bolton (1987: 284 - 285) discussed the traits proposed for the latter, demonstrating their weakness and dubious value as generic-level characters: a vestibulated propodeal spiracle appears to be present in some Australian Monomorium species (Bolton, 1987), for instance, as well as in M. delabiei . Moreover, the inclusion of Antichthonidris in Monomorium , as proposed by Heterick (2001), leaves no justification for maintaining Nothidris as a separate genus.
Phacota has been a taxonomic problem in the myrmicines, due to its poor description, the disappearance of the type specimen, and the lack of collected material referable to P. sichelii (Bolton, 1987) , all of which have impeded an evaluation of its taxonomic status. Ettershank (1966) considered this name a junior synonym of Monomorium . Bolton (1987) subsequently revived the genus, citing the few attributes that can be retrieved from Roger's (1862) original description; nevertheless, he made explicit his strong suspicion that the putative species is based on a wingless, ergatoid Monomorium female, perhaps from the M. salomonis group. Both the meager description (e. g., that the gaster is bigger than the head) and the important fact that the species has not been rediscovered in Spain or any other nearby location, are consistent with this interpretation. Given that the European ant fauna can be considered acceptably collected and studied, and in light of the group's importance, samples assignable to Phacota would surely have been detected and described by now. According to its description, Phacota is characterized by 11 - segmented antennae with a 2 - segmented club. Some Neotropical Solenopsis females possess this combination, but it is an antennal configuration unknown in Monomorium , and it is highly probable that the description of the number of flagellomeres in the antenna and club is erroneous. It would not be the only inadvertent mistake of this type in the history of ant systematics, especially given the size of the ants and the optical resolution possible in the 19 th century. It seems of little practical use to maintain a badlydescribed genus, with no associated type material, and no other collected material, and I recommend that Phacota once again be demoted as proposed by Ettershank (1966) until and unless more material is discovered, or the type specimen (in good condition) reappears.
Epelysidris is a monotypic genus of eastern Malaysia, easily separable by the distinctive pair of lobules on the basal border of each mandible, mandibular and clypeal structure, and palpal formula (Bolton, 1987). Although this taxon is undoubtedly monophyletic, its continued recognition as a separate genus would create the same dilemmas that characterize Antichthonidris , Nothidris , and some others. It is preferable to leave brocha as one additional (although highly apomorphic) species within Monomorium ; I propose here that Epelysidris thus be considered a junior synonym of Monomorium .
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