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Monomorium arenarium
| Monomorium arenarium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. arenarium |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium arenarium Heterick, 2001
| |
This species has been found in sandy areas at Swanbourne (Perth metropolitan area), Eneabba, Esperance and Nornalup in the SWBP, as well as in SA and Tas.
Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the monomorium group. This distinctive little Monomorium has a wide distribution, with an apparent predilection for sandy coastal soil and dry sclerophyll woodland. However, several collections have been made away from the coast. The oblique, sloping propodeum is sufficient to distinguish it from other small, yellow Monomorium. The queen also is distinctive, the oblique propodeal declivity being unlike that of other small Australian Monomorium queens.
Heterick (2009) - A small, orange ant whose queens have an unusual appearance
Keys including this Species
- Key to Australian Monomorium Species
- Key to Monomorium of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -31.71666718° to -35°.
| 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
Worker
Images from AntWeb
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| Paratype of Monomorium arenarium. Worker. Specimen code casent0902291. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
  
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| Specimen code casent0902290. . | |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- arenarium. Monomorium arenarium Heterick, 2001: 396, figs. 34, 135, 144, 152, 177 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 12 paratype workers, 4 paratype queens.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Belair, 13-17.i.1972, trap 3 (P.J.M. Greenslade); paratypes: 1 worker with same data but iv.1971, 2 queens South Australia, Black Oak Ck, Koonamore, 15.iv.1973 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 1 queen with same data as last but iv.1973, 2 workers, 1 queen South Australia, Nat. Park, Lofty Range, 23.iii.1969, 1800 ft, ANIC ants vial 66-74, 3 workers Tasmania, Greens Beach, 22.xii.1990 (B.B. Lowery), 4 workers Western Australia, Esperance, 2.i.1970 (B.B. Lowery), 1 worker Western Australia, Nornalup, 18.xii.1969 (B.B. Lowery), 1 worker Western Australia, Swanbourne, 19.vii.1987, 266/6MonBH46 (B.E. Heterick).
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, CUTP, MCZC, QVMT (paratypes).
- Status as species: Heterick, 2009: 158.
- Distribution: Australia.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Description
Worker
Holotype. HML 1.30; HL 0.45; HW 0.41; Cel 92; SL 0.41; SI 81; PW 0.25. Others. HML 1.25-1.49; HL 0.46-0.55; HW 0.36-0.47; Cel 79-90; SL 0.30-0.42; SI 68-90; PW 0.24-0.28 (19 measured, including alcohol specimens from Swanboume ).
As for the worker of M. fieldi, but with the following apomorphies.
Head. Frons of head capsule smooth and shining with evenly spaced, appressed setulae, or smooth and shining with incurved decumbent and subdecumbent setulae. (Viewed from front) compound eyes set in anterior half of head capsule. Venter of head capsule without elongate, basket-shaped setae. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: three.
Alitrunk. Dorsal promesonotal face convex anteriad, otherwise flattened; erect and suberect promesonotal setae absent. Propodeal sculpture present as faint microreticulation with few striae, mainly on lower lateral surface; dorsal propodeal face sloping posteriad, with wedge-shaped flattening or shallow depression that is widest between propodeal angles; processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle), or present on posterior propodeal angles in form of B. E. Heterick minute lamellae; lobes present as blunt flanges. Declivitous face of propodeum flat. Erect and suberect propodeal setae absent or very sparse. Propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal groove and declivitous face of propodeum.
Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node conical, dorsally rounded; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining. Anteroventral process present as pronounced spur, or slender carina that tapers posteriad. Ventral lobe present in some individuals. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 4:3. Ventral process present and distinct.
Gaster. Pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting mainly of decumbent and subdecumbent setulae.
General characters. Colour orange, or light tawny yellow. Worker caste monomorphic.
Queen
HML 1.98-2.37; HL 0.62-0.68; HW 0.57-0.60; Cei 86-93; SL 0.48-0.53; SI 84-88; PW 0.44-0.53 (4 measured).
Head. Head trapezoid, narrowest at the vertex; frons smooth and shining with incurved decumbent and subdecumbent setulae.
Alitrunk. Propodeal sculpture absent; propodeum smooth and shining; dorsal propodeal face gently convex. Metapleural lobes present as blunt flanges. Propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal groove and declivitous face of propodeum.
Petiole and postpetiole. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1: 1 to near 3:4. Anteroventral process present as a broad flange along the underside of the petiole. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1 to near 4:3; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 3: 1 to near 2: 1. Ventral process present and distinct.
Gaster. Pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting mainly of decumbent and subdecumbent setulae.
General characters. Colour amber, often darker on dorsal surfaces. Brachypterous alates not seen. Ergatoid or worker-female intercastes not seen.
Type Material
Holotype. Worker, South Australia, Belair, 13-17.i.1972, P. J. M. Greenslade, trap 3 (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. South Australia: 1 Worker, Belair, iv.1971, traps (ANIC); 2 queens, Black Oak Ck., Koonamore, 15.iv.1973, P. J. M. Greenslade (ANIC); l queen, Koonamore, iv.1973, P. J. M. Greenslade, pitfall traps (The Natural History Museum); I queen, 2 workers, Natl Pk, Lofty Ra., 23.iii.1969, dry sclerophyll, ridge 1800 ft, nest in hard soil, ANIC ants vial 66-74 (BMNH). Tasmania: 3 workers, Greens Beach, 22.xii.1990, B. B. Lowery, dry sclerophyll, under rock, reg. n. 12:5601, rare (QVMT). Western Australia: 4 workers, Esperance, 2.i.1970, B. B. Lowery, coastal sand heath, nest in sand near road, 7 pm, long trail between craters (Museum of Comparative Zoology); 1 worker, Nornalup, 18.xii.1969, B. B. Lowery, wet sclera., in soil (MCZ); 1 worker, Swanbourne, 19.vii.l987, B. E. Heterick, soil, mixed native/exotic veg., vegetated coastal dune, 266/6MonBH46 (Jonathan D. Majer Collection).
- Holotype, worker, Belair, South Australia, Australia, Greenslade,P.J.M., ANIC32-015713, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Belair, South Australia, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 2 queens, Black Oak Creek, Koonamore, South Australia, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 1 queen, Koonamore, South Australia, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
- Paratype, 2 workers, 1 queen, National Park, Lofty Ranges, South Australia, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
- Paratype, 4 workers, Esperance, Western Australia, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Nornalup, Western Australia, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Swanbourne, Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
- Paratype, 3 workers, Greens Beach, Tasmania, Australia, QVM (Hobart).
Etymology
Latin: “of sand/sandy”.
References
- Heterick, B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15:353-459. (page 396, figs. 34, 135, 144, 152, 177 worker, queen 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).
- Santschi, F. 1938a [1937]. Quelques nouvelles fourmis d'Egypte. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Egypte 21: 28-44 (page 39, worker described)
- Santschi, F. 1939c. Trois notes sur quelques fourmis du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. Bull. Mus. R. Hist. Nat. Belg. 15(1 14: 1-15 (page 2, nomen nudum)
- 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.