.jpg){kind=logo}
Monomorium ocellatum
| Monomorium ocellatum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. ocellatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium ocellatum Arnold, 1920
| |
Nothing is known about the biology of Monomorium ocellatum.
Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. subopacum complex in the M. salomonis species group. M. ocellatum is known only from the syntype series. It is closely related to Monomorium subopacum but shows denser pilosity and finer sculpture than that species. The presence of a median ocellus in most of the worker syntypes should not be overstressed as a diagnostic feature because of its variable development even in the few workers available.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -32.98333° to -33.3°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa (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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- ocellatum. Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) salomonis st. ocelletum Arnold, in Santschi, 1920d: 377 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: South Africa: Cape Prov., Willowmore (H.Brauns), Willowmore (G. Arnold).
- Type-depositories: BMNH, NHMB.
- Subspecies of salomonis: Arnold, 1926: 229; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 871.
- Status as species: Santschi, 1936a: 39; Arnold, 1944: 14; Bolton, 1987: 352 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 265.
- Distribution: South Africa.
Type Material
- Syntype, workers, queens, Cape Prov., Willow more, South Africa, H. Brauns, G. Arnold, The Natural History Museum; Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel; see Bolton (1987).
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 3.1-3.7, HL 0.76-0.86, HW 0.60-0.69, CI 77-82, SL 0.60-0.70, SI 100-103, PW 0.43-0.48, AL 0.92-1.06 (8 measured).
Anterior free margin of median portion of clypeus approximately transverse to concave. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter 0.25-0.27 x HW and with 10-11 ommatidia in the longest row. Several workers in the type-series with a conspicuously developed median ocellus, but in others this is very small and in a few is vestigial. In general the ocellus is largest in large workers, but the variation seen in the type-series suggests that specimens lacking the ocellus may be found. Occipital margin of head conspicuously indented in full-face view. Promesonotum convex in profile, the highest point of the outline being at the junction of pro- and mesonotum, behind which the mesonotum slopes downwards to the narrowly impressed metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsum flattened and shallowly transversely concave. Dorsum of head in profile with about 5 pairs of standing fine hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes. In fresh specimens more may be present, but all the syntypes show signs of abrasion. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole with 1-2 and postpetiole with 2-3 pairs of fine backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with fairly dense fine pilosity on the basal third, the least abraded specimens showing about 6 pairs in this area. An apical transverse row of hairs is present on the first tergite. The area between the transverse row and the basal cluster of hairs shows one or two hairs in a few syntypes and it is probable that several may be 'present in fresh specimens; all the syntypes, however, show marked abrasion in this area. Dorsum of head opaque, blanketed by extremely fine dense sculpture which is reticulate-shagreenate to densely silkily striolate-granular. Promesonotal dorsum similarly sculptured but with fine dense reticulate ground sculpture showing through. Propodeal dorsum anteriorly as promesonotum but posteriorly becoming more obviously reticulate to reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite superficially reticulate. Colour brown, the gaster distinctly darker than the alitrunk.
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 377, worker described)
- Arnold, G. 1926. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Appendix. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 23: 191-295 (page 229, queen described)
- Arnold, G. 1944. New species of African Hymenoptera. No. 5. Occas. Pap. Natl. Mus. South. Rhod. 2: 1-38 (page 14, Raised to species)
- Bolton, B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 54: 263-452 (page 352, Raised to species)
- Santschi, F. 1936a. Étude sur les fourmis du genre Monomorium Mayr. Bull. Soc. Sci. Nat. Maroc 16: 32-64 (page 39, Raised to species)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Tshinguvho T. E., W. R. J. Dean, and H. G. Robertson. 1999. Conservation value of road verges in the semi-arid Karoo, South Africa: ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as bio-indicators. Biodiversity and Conservation 8: 16831695
- Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004