Monomorium boerorum

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium boerorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. boerorum
Binomial name
Monomorium boerorum
Forel, 1910

Monomorium boerorum casent0908704 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium boerorum casent0908704 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

This species has been collected in Bushveld and grassland.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. boerorum complex in the M. monomorium species group. The true affinities of boerorum are difficult to discern as it possesses a petiole and postpetiole structure similar to that of Monomorium paternum and Monomorium nuptialis but lacks their clypeal structure. It lacks the much enlarged propodeal spiracle characteristic of Monomorium kelapre but apart from this the overall similarity with kelapre is striking.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -23.21667° to -34.41667°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: South Africa (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • boerorum. Monomorium minutum var. boerorum Forel, 1910e: 442 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queen(s) (numbers not stated).
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Orange Free State, vii.6 (= 1906?) (Wroughton).
    • Type-depositories: BMNH, MHNG.
    • Subspecies of minutum: Forel, 1914d: 244; Arnold, 1916: 218; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 864; Emery, 1922e: 172; Ettershank, 1966: 88.
    • Status as species: Bolton, 1987: 381 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 260.
    • Distribution: South Africa.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Bolton (1987) - TL 1.9-2.0, HL 0.50-0.54, HW 0.38-0.43, CI 76-80, SL 0.33-0.34, SI 80-86, PW 0.24-0.25, AL 0.54-0.56 (3 measured).

Clypeal carinae feebly developed, visible posteriorly, divergent and fading out anteriorly. Prominent median portion of clypeus more or less evenly broadly convex across its entire width, its border not differentiated into anterior and lateral margins by a pair of angles or denticles. Maximum diameter of eye 0.19-0.21 x HW and with 6 ommatidia in the longest row. With the head in full-face view the posterior margins of the eyes conspicuously in front of the midlength of the sides and the scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, falling far short of the occipital margin. Head with sides shallowly convex in full-face view and broadening posteriorly to the beginning of the curve of the occipital comer. Occipital margin broad and very shallowly transversely concave. Promesonotum shallowly convex in profile, sloping posteriorly to the weakly impressed metanotal groove; the latter with short but distinct cross-ribs. Propodeal dorsum evenly convex, the spiracle small. Petiole node low and thickly subconical, bluntly rounded above. Anterior peduncle of petiole short and stout, with a flange-like anteroventral process. Postpetiole much smaller than petiole, more broadly rounded above. All dorsal surfaces of body with standing hairs, 3-4 pairs present on promesonotum. Lower half of mesopleuron reticulate and metanotum cross-ribbed, otherwise entire body without sculpture except for hair-pits. Body glossy brown.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, female, South Africa: Orange Free State , vii.6. (Wroughton) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève; The Natural History Museum) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Arnold G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 159-270.
  • Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.
  • Forel A. 1910. Note sur quelques fourmis d'Afrique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 54: 421-458.
  • Forel A. 1914. Formicides d'Afrique et d'Amérique nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 50: 211-288.