Monomorium captator

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium captator
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. captator
Binomial name
Monomorium captator
Santschi, 1936

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Specimen Labels

One collection of this species was made from a Aucoumea klaineana tree.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. altinode complex in the M. monomorium species group. Among the immediate relatives of Monomorium altinode and Monomorium arnoldi are those species in which the petiole node is high, narrowly rounded and anteroposteriorly compressed, the postpetiole high and with a vertical anterior face, and the colour yellow. M. captator is distinguished among these forms by its relatively large propodeal spiracle and dense alitrunk pilosity.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -3.125556° to -3.125556°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo (type locality), Gabon.

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.

  • captator. Monomorium (Monomorium) captator Santschi, 1936a: 43 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Congo (“Moyen Congo”): Ronga (no collector’s name).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • [Monomorium captator Santschi, 1932a: 385. Nomen nudum.]
    • Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 88; Bolton, 1987: 382 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 260.
    • Distribution: Congo, Gabon.

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 1.8-1.9, HL 0.52-0.54, HW 0.41-0.42, CI 77-81, SL 0.36-0.38, SI 88-93, PW 0.26-0.28, AL 0.53-0.55 (5 measured).

Clypeal carinae sharply developed, widely separated and divergent anteriorly, terminating at the anterior clypeal margin in a pair of low triangular prominences or denticles. Anterior margin of projecting median portion of clypeus concave between these triangular prominences and usually with an indentation at the site of the median setal socket. Maximum diameter of eye 0.24-0.26 x HW and with 6-7 ommatidia in the longest row. With the head in full-face view the eyes in front of the midlength of the sides and the scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, failing to reach the occipital margin. Sides of head in full-face view evenly shallowly convex, the occipital margin broad and transverse to broadly and very shallowly concave. Alitrunk in profile with the promesonotum shallowly convex anteriorly and evenly sloping posteriorly to the weakly impressed metanotal groove. Cross-ribs of metanotal groove well developed but mostly only short; a few longer cross-ribs occur laterally, about at the level of the propodeal spiracle . Propodeal dorsum in profile with a very short convex area immediately behind the metanotal groove, the remainder of the surface more or less flat and sloping posteriorly. Dorsum and declivity of propodeum meeting in a broad curve. Propodeal spiracle large, larger than is usually seen in relatives of Monomorium altinode but smaller than that seen in such as Monomorium kineti. Petiole node in profile high and narrow, anteroposteriorly compressed and narrowly rounded above. Postpetiole more broadly rounded above and somewhat lower than the petiole, but with a conspicuous vertical anterior face. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous standing hairs; the promesonotum with more than 8 pairs. Head and body unsculptured except for hair-pits, metanotal cross-ribs and some faint vestiges of sculpture on the lower mesopleuron. Colour glossy dull yellow, the head slightly darker in shade than the alitrunk.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, Zaire: Ronga (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • 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.
  • Braet Y., and B. Taylor. 2008. Mission entomologique au Parc National de Pongara (Gabon). Bilan des Formicidae (Hymenoptera) recoltes. Bulletin S. R. B. E./K.B.V.E. 144: 157-169.