Monomorium inquilinum

Monomorium inquilinum
Conservation status
	; Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Monomorium
Species:	M. inquilinum
Binomial name
	Monomorium inquilinum; DuBois, 1981

This species was discovered in a nest of Monomorium cyaneum beneath a stone. It is presumed to be a social parasite because of the morphological features shared with other inquilinous Monomorium. Monomorium inquilinum is known only from the type locality.

At a Glance

• Workerless Inquiline

Identification

DuBois (1986) - A member of the Monomorium minimum species group. Queen Winged; petiole emarginate; scutum and scutellum not depressed; metanotum (in lateral view) projecting to level of propodeum and scutellum; propodeum angular; clypeus emarginate, lacking teeth; anterior edge of pronotum rounded.

The Monomorium inquilinum female is most similar to Monomorium pergandei and Monomorium talbotae females. It can be easily be separated from these species since the petiole is emarginate only in M. inquilinum. Furthermore, the metanotum does not reach the level of propodeum and scutellum in M. talbotae, and the mesonotum possesses a furrow in M. pergandei.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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

Known only from the queen caste, this species is presumed to have no worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

inquilinum. Monomorium inquilinum DuBois, 1981: 34, fig. 2 (q.) MEXICO (Mexico).
- Type-material: holotype queen.
- Type-locality: Mexico: Highway 57 (Mexico City – Queretaro), km. 127, 9.viii.1965, high desert (Cornell University Mexico Field Party).
- Type-depository: MCZC.
- Status as species: DuBois, 1986: 116 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 263; Fernández, 2007b: 134.
- Distribution: U.S.A.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Queen

As described for Monomorium talbotae except as follows. Head: {representing holotype only} HL 0.45, HW 0.39, SL 0.40, IOD 0.10, OD 0.04, EL 0.10, MOD 0.08. Structure—CI 89, SIL 89, SIW 100. Scape surpassing occiput by amount slightly greater than length of pedicel. Labial palp 2-segmented. Clypeal teeth absent (clypeus retaining emargination where space between teeth should occur). Alitrunk: Measurements PW 0.30, PL 0.15, WL 0.66. Structure—Mesopleural suture straight. Metanotum (in lateral view) projecting to level of propodeum and scutellum. Propodeum angular, basal face length half length of declivitous face. PI 22. Wings absent (presence of basal sclerites indicate holotype once possessed wings). Pilosity—As in M. cyaneum. Sculpture—As in M. talbotae. Petiole. Dorsum of node emarginate. Entire surface (except dorsum of petiolar node) covered with small, dense, nonpiliferous punctures (causing a granular appearance); dorsum of node smooth and shining with small piliferous punctures. Postpetiole. Dorsum of node emarginate. Gaster: As in M. pergandei. Color: Head dark brown, antenna yellow. Alitrunk dark brown, legs brown (tibiae and tarsi yellow). Petiole, postpetiole, and gaster dark brown. All setae white.

Type Material

DuBois (1986) - Known only from the holotype (DuBois, 1981a): Estado de Mexico: Highway 57 (between Mexico City and Queretaro), km 127 (measured from Mexico City), high desert, Cornell University Mexico Field Party, 9 August 1965 (1 female, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

DuBois, M. B. 1981b. Two new species of inquilinous Monomorium from North America (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Univ. Kans. Sci. Bull. 52: 31-37 (page 34, fig. 2 queen described)
DuBois, M. B. 1986. A revision of the native New World species of the ant genus Monomorium (minimum group) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin. 53(2):65-119.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133