Monomorium algiricum

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium algiricum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. algiricum
Binomial name
Monomorium algiricum
(Bernard, 1955)

Monomorium algiricum casent0906902 p 1 high.jpg

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At a Glance • Ergatoid queen  

Identification

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 37.1075° to 36.549444°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Algeria (type locality), Iberian Peninsula, Spain.

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

Thirty-five colonies (228-3999 workers) of Monomorium algiricum were excavated at different times of the year (Peeters & Tinaut 2014). New sexuals (ergatoid queens and males) were found during a short period at the end of summer. Dissection of spermathecae in 331 queens revealed that new gynes mate soon after emergence. Ovarian activity was assessed to distinguish between "old" and newly mated queens. Both monogynous and polygynous colonies were found throughout the year; queens in the latter were less fecund. Sexuals were not produced in some polygynous colonies. The life history of M. algiricum is complex due to interactions between extreme seasonality (no foraging and no egg-laying during six months of the year), coexistence between "old" and newly mated ergatoid queens, and the irregularity inherent to colony fission.


Queen ovaries in a monogynous colony of M. algiricum. Photo by Alberto Tinaut

Castes

Queens are ergatoid and markedly bigger than workers. Due to lack of wing muscles, the thorax of ergatoid queens is worker-like with a decreased volume and pronounced fusion of flight sclerites. Queens of M. algiricum have 28-40 ovarioles (Peeters & Tinaut 2014). Monomorium workers lack ovaries.


Size dimorphism between ergatoid queen and worker in M. algiricum from southern Spain. Photo by Christian Peeters
Ergatoid queen of M. algiricum (posterior segments of gaster missing due to dissection of ovaries). Photo by Alberto Tinaut
SEM of thorax of ergatoid queen of M. algiricum showing lack of distinct sclerites. Photo by Roberto Keller

Nomenclature

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

  • algiricum. Epixenus algiricus Bernard, 1955b: 274, figs. 1a-e, 2 (w.q.l.) ALGERIA.
    • Type-material: 12 syntype workers, 4 syntype ergatoid queens.
    • Type-locality: Algeria: Kaddous, 7 km. S Algiers, iii.1945 (F. Bernard).
    • [Note: Bernard also includes as “cotypes” >200 workers, 4 queens from either Kaddous, or from Algeria: Forêt de Bainem, 6 km. W Algiers, 380 m., 1947 to 1955 (F. Bernard).]
    • Type-depository: MNHN.
    • Tinaut & Ortiz, 1988: 167 (m.).
    • Combination in Monomorium: Brown & Wilson, 1957b: 245.
    • Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 87; Cagniant, 1970a: 418; Tohmé, H. & Tohmé, G. 1980a: 1106 (in key); Tinaut & Ortiz, 1988: 167 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 259; Borowiec, L. 2014: 115.
    • Distribution: Algeria, Spain.

Description

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Barech G., M. Khaldi, X. Espadaler, and H. Cagniant. 2017. The genus Monomorium Mayr, 1855 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Maghreb (North Africa): Identification key, redescription of Monomorium major Bernard, 1953 and new records from Algeria. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 61: 151-157.
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Ortiz, F. J.. "Formícidos del litoral granadino." Memoria de Licenciatura Universida (1985): 206 pp.
  • Tinaut A. 2016. Ants of the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Mountains Natural Park (Andalusia, Spain) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Boln. Asoc. esp. Ent., 40 (1-2): 125-159.
  • Tinaut, A., and F. J. Ortiz. "Descripción del macho de Monomorium algiricum (Bernard, 1955) y consideraciones sobre el valor taxonómico del género Epixenus Emery, 1908." Boletín de la Asociación Española de Entomología 12 (1988): 165-174.