Monomorium carinatum

Monomorium carinatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Monomorium
Species:	M. carinatum
Binomial name
	Monomorium carinatum; Heterick, 2001 Specimen Labels

This species appears to be nocturnal: I have seen terrestrial foraging activity by workers near Newman, Western Australia Heterick (2001).

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the monomorium group. Monomorium carinatum belongs to the Monomorium sydneyense complex, and closely resembles northern populations of that species. Some M. carinatum workers without strongly defined propodeal carinae may be confused with M. sydneyense, but can be distinguished by the laterally compressed propodeum, flattened trapezoidal promesonotum (viewed dorsally) and relatively larger eye.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -16.3895° to -23.3392°.


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.

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.

Biology

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Specimen code casent0902296. .

Nomenclature

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

carinatum. Monomorium carinatum Heterick, 2001: 397, figs. 35, 136, 143 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Northern Territory, Western Australia).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 22 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Northern Territory, 5 km. NE Barrow Creek, 21°29’S, 133°55’E, 10.x.1981, 126a (D. Davidson & S. Morton); paratypes: 5 workers with same data, 3 workers with same data but 126b, 5 workers with same data but 126c, 3 workers Northern Territory, 11 km. N Tennants Creek, 19°32’S, 134°13’E, 11.x.1981, 141a (D. Davidson & S. Morton), 5 workers with same data but 141b, 6 workers with same data but 141c.
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
- 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 1.47; HL 0.53; HW 0.43; Cel 80; SL 0.38; SI 89; PW 0.30. Others. HML 1.25-1.56; HL 0.48-0.55; HW 0.36-0.46; Cel 76-86; SL 0.34-0.40; SI 84-94; PW 0.24-0.32 (26 measured).

As for the worker of M. sydneyense, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Frons of head capsule smooth and shining with evenly spaced, appressed setulae, or longitudinally striate with well-spaced, appressed setulae. (Viewed laterally) compound eyes set at midline of head capsule; eye large, eye width greater than 1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Anteromedial clypeal margin straight or slightly emarginate, median clypeal carinae not produced as teeth or denticles. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: three; mandibles (viewed from front) strap-like with inner and outer edges subparallel, striate, with piliferous punctures.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of uniform microreticulation with few mesopleural striolae; dorsal promesonotal face convex anteriad, otherwise flattened; erect and suberect promesonotal setae absent. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform microreticulation, with few or no striae or costulae; propodeal processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle); lobes present as blunt flanges. Declivitous face of propodeum longitudinally concave between its lateral margins. Erect and suberect propodeal setae absent or very sparse; propodeal setulae absent. Propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal groove and declivitous face of propodeum.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and slightly anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar node cuneate, dorsally rounded to cuneate, sharply tapered; sculpture present in form of microreticulation. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 4:3. Anteroventral process always present as pronounced spur. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 4:3. Sculpture present in form of microreticulation.

General characters. Colour either russet or brown with posterior promesonotum, propodeum, anterior sector of petiole, and apex of gaster more darkly infuscated, legs amber or uniformly fulvous. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, 5km NE Barrow Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, Davidson,D. & Morton,S.R., ANIC32-015724, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 5 workers, 5km NE Barrow Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 8 workers (some damaged), 5km NE Barrow Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
Paratype, 14 workers, 11km N Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Latin: “keeled”.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Fisher J., L. Beames, B. J. Rangers, N. N. Rangers, J. Majer, and B. Heterick. 2014. Using ants to monitor changes within and surrounding the endangered Monsoon Vine Thickets of the tropical Dampier Peninsula, north Western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 318: 7890.