Monomorium khalidi

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium khalidi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species group: salomonis
Species: M. khalidi
Binomial name
Monomorium khalidi
Sharaf, 2021

The type locality of this species is within the Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, a protected area consisting of an isolated granite mountain massif in southwestern Saudi Arabia. This a Nature Reserve located in the Al Bahah Province in the southwestern KSA at an elevational range of 470–2,222 m. The locality is characterized by relatively high rainfall, diverse habitats, and high biodiversity, as well as by the presence of large areas of terraced fields used for cultivating banana, coffee, figs, and lemon. The region has a diverse range of wild vegetation cover including plants of the Leguminosae (Fabaceae), composites (Asteraceae), and graminoides (Poaceae). Acacia (Fabaceae) and Juniper (Cupressaceae) are the most dominant plants (SWA, 2018; El-Hawagry et al., 2016). Shada Al-A’Ala harbors a high number of endemic animals including birds, mammals (SWA, 2018) and insects (El-Hawagry et al., 2016).

Identification

Monomorium khalidi can be distinguished by the combination of the following characters:

  • short scape failing to reach posterior head margin in full-face view
  • abundant mesosomal pilosity
  • straight outline of promesonotum
  • densely reticulatepunctate surfaces of head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole
  • promesonotum dorsally with at least five to six pair of hairs, promesonotum and propodeum each with three pairs

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • khalidi. Monomorium khalidi Sharaf, in Sharaf et al., 2021: 34, figs. 18A-C (w.) SAUDI ARABIA (Al Baha).

Description

References