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Monomorium algiricum
| 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)
| |
| 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 |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria (type locality), Iberian Peninsula, Spain.
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
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.
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.
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
- Bernard, F. 1955b. Morphologie et comportement des fourmis lestobiotiques du genre Epixenus Emery. Insectes Soc. 2: 273-283. (page 274, figs. 1, 2 worker, queen, larva described)
- Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
- Brown, W. L., Jr.; Wilson, E. O. 1957b. A new parasitic ant of the genus Monomorium from Alabama, with a consideration of the status of genus Epixenus Emery. Entomol. News 68: 239-246 (page 245, Combination in Monomorium)
- Cantone S. 2017. Winged Ants, The Male, Dichotomous key to genera of winged male ants in the World, Behavioral ecology of mating flight (self-published).
- Peeters, C. & Tinaut, A. 2014. Reconstructing life history in ants: Ergatoid queens, facultative monogyny and dependent colony foundation in Monomorium algiricum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 20: 77-85.
- Tinaut, A., Ruano, F. 2021. Biogeography of Iberian ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Diversity 13, 88. (doi:10.3390/d13020088).
- Tinaut, A.; Ortiz, F. J. 1988. Descripción del macho de Monomorium algiricum (Bernard 1955) y consideraciones sobre el valor taxonómico del genero Epixenus Emery, 1908 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bol. Asoc. Esp. Entomol. 12: 165-174 (page 167, male described)
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.