Monomorium kelapre

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium kelapre
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. kelapre
Binomial name
Monomorium kelapre
Bolton, 1987

Monomorium kelapre casent0902260 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium kelapre casent0902260 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Collected from pitfall traps in montane grassland and thornveld.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. boerorum complex in the M. monomorium species group. This notably small species' closest relative appears to be boerorum, also from South Africa. The two are separated by density of pilosity (boerorum having only 3-4 pairs of promesonotal hairs) and by the relatively very large propodeal spiracle of kelapre.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -24.96303° to -33.54392°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: South Africa (type locality).

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

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • kelapre. Monomorium kelapre Bolton, 1987: 395 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Port Elisabeth (ex coll. G. Mayr).
    • Type-depository: BMNH.
    • Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 263.
    • Distribution: South Africa.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.50, HW 0.40, CI 80, SL 0.32, SI 80, PW 0.24, AL 0.52.

Prominent median portion of clypeus with its anterior margin evenly broadly convex. Clypeal carinae vestigial, low rounded and poorly defined, fading out anteriorly. Maximum diameter of eye 0.20 x HW and with 6 ommatidia in the longest row. In full-face view the eyes distinctly in front of the midlength of the sides. Antennal scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, failing to reach the occipital margin, the scapes relatively short (SI 80). Outline shape of head very similar to that of Monomorium boerorum, the occipital margin broad and broadly shallowly concave. Promesonotum in profile convex anteriorly, the highest point well in front of the midlength, on the pronotum itself rather than at the junction of pronotum and mesonotum. Pronotum behind the highest point and mesonotum forming a posteriorly sloping, almost flat surface to the metanotal groove. Posterior fraction of mesonotum suddenly downcurved to the narrow but deeply impressed metanotal groove, which is narrowly V-shaped. Metanotal cross-ribs short but conspicuous. Propodeal dorsum convex and sloping posteriorly, highest immediately behind the metanotal groove; rounding broadly and evenly into the declivity through a steep curve. Propodeal spiracle very large, dominating the side of the sclerite. Petiole with a short anterior peduncle which is subtended by a translucent strip-like anteroventral process which is trunctated anteriorly. Petiole node subconical in profile, narrowly but bluntly rounded above, its anterior face more or less flat and its posterior face very slightly convex. Postpetiole node smaller, lower and narrower than petiole, but somewhat more broadly rounded above. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with standing hairs, the promesonotum with 6-7 pairs and the propodeum with 3 pairs, the anteriormost of which is very short. Sculpture absent except for hair-pits and metanotal cross-ribs. Colour glossy light brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker, South Africa: Port Elizabeth (ex. coll. G. Mayr) (The Natural History Museum).

References