Monomorium springvalense

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Monomorium springvalense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. springvalense
Binomial name
Monomorium springvalense
Forel, 1913

Monomorium springvalense casent0010822 profile 1.jpg

Monomorium springvalense casent0010822 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

One of the few collections of this species was taken in a pitfall trap in a grassland.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. leopoldinum complex in the M. monomorium species group. M. springvalense is very closely related to Monomorium borlei within the leopoldinum-complex but the two are separated by the darker colour, larger propodeal spiracle and even sparser pilosity of the latter.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -18.16667° to -33.1°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Zimbabwe (type locality), Zimbabwe (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.

  • springvalense. Monomorium oscaris r. springvalense Forel, 1913a: 136 (w.) ZIMBABWE.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Zimbabwe (“Southern Rhodesia”): Springvale, 6.x.1912, no. 111 (G. Arnold).
    • Type-depositories: BMNH, MHNG.
    • Subspecies of oscaris: Forel, 1914d: 248; Arnold, 1916: 230; Forel, 1916: 418; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 865; Ettershank, 1966: 92.
    • Subspecies of musicum: Emery, 1922e: 173.
    • Status as species: Santschi, 1926b: 236; Santschi, 1937d: 225; Bolton, 1987: 412 (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 2.0-2.1, HL 0.50-0.52, HW 0.40-0.41, CI 77-80, SL 0.36-0.37, SI 90, PW 0.26-0.30, AL 0.53-0.58.

Clypeal carinae sharply developed and conspicuous; widely divergent anteriorly. Anterior margin of prominent median portion of clypeus transverse to shallowly concave, usually with a feebly crenulate appearance. The anterior margin is bounded on each side by a low triangular prominent angle at the apex of each clypeal carina, the projecting angle separating the anterior and lateral margins of the median portion of the clypeus. Maximum diameter of eye 0.22-0.23 x HW and with 6-7 ommatidia in the longest row. Antennal scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, failing to reach the occipital margin. With the head in full-face view the eyes situated conspicuously in front of the midlength of the sides; the sides behind the eyes weakly convex and the broad occipital margin shallowly concave medially. Promesonotum evenly shallowly convex in profile, sloping posteriorly to the narrow and only weakly impressed metanotal groove. Metanotal cross-ribs short but distinct. Propodeal spiracle of moderate size, not reduced to a mere pinhole nor very large and dominating the side of the sclerite. Propodeal dorsum rounding broadly and evenly into the declivity. Subpetiolar process a small anteroventral lobe which peters out posteriorly. Node of petiole in profile quite thickly subconical, the anterior and posterior faces both very fully convex and the node bluntly rounded above. Postpetiole smaller and lower than petiole, more broadly rounded dorsally but with relatively steep anterior and posterior faces, both of which are nearly vertical. Standing hairs present on all dorsal surfaces but relatively sparse on the alitrunk; the promesonotum with only 4 pairs. Sculpture entirely absent except for scattered hair-pits and metanotal cross-ribs. Alitrunk yellow, the head and gaster with a brownish tint; usually the gaster slightly darker in shade than the head.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, Zimbabwe: Springvale 6.x.1912, no. 111 (G. Arnold) (The Natural History Museum; Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
  • Koen J. H., and W. Breytenbach. 1988. Ant species richness of fynbos and forest ecosystems in the Southern Cape. South Afr. Tydskr. Dierk. 23(3): 184-188.