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Monomorium kitectum
| Monomorium kitectum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. kitectum |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium kitectum Bolton, 1987
| |
A South African specimen was collected in a pitfall trip in Acacia savanna.
Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. subopacum complex in the M. salomonis species group. A relatively small but conspicuous species closely related to Monomorium willowmorense but separated from it by the numerous characters indicated in the key.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -23.06666667° to -24.78048°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia (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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- kitectum. Monomorium kitectum Bolton, 1987: 347, fig. 49 (w.) NAMIBIA.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Namibia: Namib Desert, 23°04’S, 15°36’E, sample P 22,1984, pitfall (A.C. Marsh); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: BMNH (holotype); BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
- Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 263.
- Distribution: Namibia.
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 2.3, HL 0.60, HW 0.45, CI 75, SL 0.46, SI 102, PW 0.30, AL 0.70.
Anterior free margin of median portion of clypeus transverse to extremely feebly convex, not indented medially. Head in full-face view with sides very shallowly convex and occipital margin almost transverse, with only the shallowest degree of concavity. Eyes relatively large, the maximum diameter 0.31 x HW and with 9 ommatidia in the longest row. With the alitrunk in profile the promesonotal dorsal outline almost flat behind the anterior curvature and sloping shallowly to the metanotal groove; the latter almost unimpressed, making only the slightest of indentations in the outline. Dorsum of propodeum flattened but not impressed, the dorsum rounding narrowly into the sides but without margination. Petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view of approximately equal width, the latter only fractionally broader than the former. Petiole in profile with the node cuneate, very narrowly rounded dorsally. Subpetiolar process indistinct, forming a low inconspicuous flange which runs back almost to the level of the spiracle. In profile the cephalic dorsum with appressed sparse pubescence but without standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes. Ventral surface of head with some fine projecting hairs. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole and postpetiole each with one pair of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with sparse appressed pubescence, lacking hairs except for a single pair at about the midlength and a transverse row at the apex of the sclerite. Dorsum of head polished and shining, the surface with an extremely faint superficial reticular patterning only. Promesonotal dorsum reticulate anteriorly, the sculpture becoming denser posteriorly. Propodeal dorsum reticulate to feebly reticulate-shagreenate. Sides of pronotum superficially reticulate as head, remainder of alitrunk sides more strongly reticulate or reticulate-shagreenate. First gastral tergite very faintly superficially reticulate , shining. Colour brown, the head and gaster darker in shade than the alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole.
Paratypes. TL 2.2-2.3, HL 0.58-0.60, HW 0.43-0.45, CI 73-75, SL 0.44-0.46, SI 100-102, PW 0.30-0.32, AL 0.68-0.70 (5 measured). As holotype but in two the first gastral tergite with another pair of hairs, sited between the base and the pair at the tergal midlength. In one paratype the alitrunk is almost as dark in colour as the head and gaster, and in another the subpetiolar process is slightly convex, forming a low elongate lobe rather than a straight-edged flange. Maximum diameter of eye 0.29-0.31 x HW, with 8-9 ommatidia in the longest row.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Namibia: Namib Desert, 15° 36' E, 23° 04' S, sample P 22, pitfall , 1984 (A. C. Marsh) (The Natural History Museum). Paratypes. 5 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; Museum of Comparative Zoology).
References
- Bolton, B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 54: 263-452.. (page 347, fig. 49 worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.