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Monomorium aithoderum
| Monomorium aithoderum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. aithoderum |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium aithoderum Heterick, 2001
| |
Little is known of M. aithoderum’s biology. One worker was collected on Conostylis (“trigger plant”).
Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the monomorium group. Monomorium aithoderum is a small, inconspicuous species. Nearly all specimens have come from Western Australia, but the ant may have a much broader range, as the recent collection of material in the Eyre Peninsula demonstrates. This ant is not easily separated from other tiny Monomorium with a reticulate propodeum, but it is never yellow (unlike Monomorium micula and many Monomorium sydneyense specimens), has a more elongate promesonotum and a more compressed propodeum than brown samples of M. sydneyense, and has an oval eye (unlike Monomorium stictonotum and Monomorium nanum).
Heterick (2009) - Monomorium aithoderum, Monomorium nanum and Monomorium stictonotum are minute, nondescript orange or brownish species of very similar appearance that make up much of the Monomorium biomass in drier areas of southern Australia.
Keys including this Species
- Key to Australian Monomorium Species
- Key to Monomorium of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -33.1333313° to -34.05°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia (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.
- aithoderum. Monomorium aithoderum Heterick, 2001: 394, figs. 32, 131 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia, Western Australia).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 13 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Eyre Hwy, 38 km. W Kimba, 14.xii.1995 (B.E. Heterick); paratypes: 3 workers with same data, 4 workers Western Australia, 2 mi. N Borden, 9.xi.1947, 8455 (T. Greaves), 1 worker Western Australia, 11 mi. WNW Esperance, 11.xi.1947, 8730 (T. Greaves), 1 worker Kenwick, 14 km. SE Perth, 10.ix.1980, 94/11682 (J. Lewis), 4 workers Tutanning, 1980, JDM541 (A. Perth).
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, CUTP, MCZC, WAMP (paratypes).
- Status as species: Heterick, 2009: 159.
- Distribution: Australia.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype. HML 1.20; HL 0.48; HW 0.41; Cei 84; SL 0.36; SI 89; PW 0.26. Others. HML 1.07-1.52; HL 0.46-0.57; HW 0.40--0.48; Cei 78-91; SL 0.34-0.40; SI 80-89; PW 0.23-0.30 (16 workers).
As for the worker of Monomorium sydneyense, but with the following apomorphies.
Head. (Viewed from front) compound eyes set at midpoint of each side of head capsule; (viewed laterally) compound eyes set posterior of midline of head capsule; eye moderate, eye width 0.5-1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced apically as pair of pronounced teeth. Mandibles (viewed from front) strap-like with inner and outer edges subparallel, striate, with piliferous punctures; basal tooth not enlarged.
Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of microreticulation, striolae and striae on the mesopleuron, and striolae on posterodorsal promesonotal surface; dorsal promesonotal face evenly convex; erect and suberect promesonotal setae absent, or greater than 10. Metanotal groove present as feebly impressed furrow between promesonotum and propodeum, or present as distinct and deeply impressed trough between promesonotum and propodeum. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform microreticulation, with few or no striae or costulae. Declivitous face of propodeum longitudinally concave between its lateral margins. Erect and suberect propodeal setae absent or very sparse, or 5-10 setae present; propodeal setulae appressed.
Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuneate, dorsally rounded; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining to present in form of microreticulation. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 4:3. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 4:3. Sculpture absent on dorsum, at least: postpetiole smooth and shining.
General characters. Colour tawny orange (head may be darker than alitrunk when viewed from front), mandibles conspicuously yellow in some specimens, gaster and legs light brown to brown. Worker caste monomorphic.
Type Material
- Holotype, worker, Eyre Highway, 38km W Kimba, South Australia, Australia, Heterick,B.E., ANIC32-015708, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 4 workers (1 missing head), 2mi. N Borden, Western Australia, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 3 workers, Eyre Highway, 38km W Kimba, South Australia, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 1 worker, 11mi. WNW Esperance, Western Australia, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
- Paratype, 3 workers, Tutanning, Western Australia, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Kenwick, 14km SE Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Western Australian Museum.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Tutanning, Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
Etymology
Greek: “burnt, fiery red color” + “skin or hide”.
References
- Heterick, B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15:353-459. (page 131, worker described)
- Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76:1-206.
- Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
- Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
- Sparks, K. 2015. Australian Monomorium: Systematics and species delimitation with a focus of the M. rothsteini complex. Ph.D. thesis, University of Adelaide.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Heterick B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 353-459.