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Monomorium shilohense
| Monomorium shilohense | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. shilohense |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium shilohense Forel, 1913
| |
Most specimens have been collected in semi-open habitats such as bushveld and acacia woodland.
Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. boerorum complex in the M. monomorium species group. One of only six species in the region to combine 12-segmented antennae with the characteristic eye form described above. M. shilohense is separated from the other five by its colour, the shape and size of its eyes, and its pilosity. In Monomorium sryetum the dorsal alitrunk has only a single pair of standing hairs, at the pronotal humeri, whilst all the others have more than one pair. Monomorium trake and Monomorium rotundatum have small eyes (0.17-0.19 x HW as opposed to 0.21-0.25 x HW elsewhere) which appear almost circular in profile, being only fractionally longer than high rather than distinctly elongate and narrow as seen in the remaining four species. In Monomorium inquietum and trake the anterior clypeal margin is evenly convex, lacking the differentiated prominent median portion developed by the other four species. In Monomorium floricola and inquietum the head is conspicuously brown in colour, whereas it is yellow in the remaining four species.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -19.75° to -32.30233°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Zimbabwe (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
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.
- shilohense. Monomorium braunsi var. shilohensis Forel, 1913j: 217 (w.) ZIMBABWE.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: Zimbabwe (“Southern Rhodesia”): Shiloh, 10.v.1913, no. 173 (G. Arnold).
- Type-depositories: BMNH, MHNG.
- Subspecies of braunsi: Arnold, 1916: 235; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 863; Emery, 1922e: 171; Ettershank, 1966: 92.
- Status as species: Bolton, 1987: 410 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 267.
- Distribution: Zimbabwe.
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 1.5-1.6, HL 0.38-0.44, HW 0.30-0.34, CI 77-81, SL 0.24-0.28, SI 80-85, PW 0.19-0.23, AL 0.42-0.46 (5 measured).
Anterior clypeal margin transverse to feebly concave between the apices of the weakly developed clypeal carinae, the latter distinctly divergent anteriorly but not terminating in teeth or projecting angles. Instead the anterior margin and lateral margins of the projecting median section of the clypeus meet in obtuse angles. Maximum diameter of eye 0.23-0.24 x HW. In profile the eye conspicuously longer than high, the ommatidia arranged as an outer ring which encircles a single inner longitudinal row. The encircled row consists usually of 3 ommatidia but rarely 4 may be present. In full-face view the eyes distinctly in front of the midlength of the sides and the scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, fail to reach the occipital margin. Promesonotum shallowly convex, almost flat posteriorly, sloping to the metanotal groove which is shallow and almost unimpressed. Propodeal dorsum continues the slope of the posterior mesonotum and the propodeal spiracle is minute and pinhole-like. Peduncle of petiole short and subtended by a short but deep and conspicuous process. Petiole node low and broadly subconical, its ventral surface distinctly bulging and convex; the subpetiolar process is confluent with this bulge. Postpetiole low and rounded, smaller than the petiole. All available specimens are abraded but the promesonotum apparently has 3-4 pairs of standing hairs and the propodeum one pair. The head, petiole, postpetiole and gaster also have standing hairs present. Head and body without sculpture except for metanotal cross-ribs and some weak granular sculpture on the mesopleuron. Colour yellow throughout, the apical half of the first gastral tergite without a transverse brown band.
Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, Zimbabwe: Shiloh, 10.v.1913, no. 173 (G. Arnold) (The Natural History Museum; Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].
References
- 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.. (page 410, Raised to species)
- Forel, A. 1913k. Ameisen aus Rhodesia, Kapland usw. (Hym.) gesammelt von Herrn G. Arnold, Dr. H. Brauns und Anderen. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1913(Su Suppl: 203-225 (page 217, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection