Monomorium sryetum

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Monomorium sryetum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. sryetum
Binomial name
Monomorium sryetum
Bolton, 1987

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Specimen Labels

Found in semi-open habitats such as bushveld and acacia woodland.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. boerorum complex in the M. monomorium species group. This minute species is rendered very distinctive by the combination of its eye form, 12-segmented antennae, and extremely reduced alitrunk pilosity. The form of the eye described above is shared with only five other Afrotropical species in which the antennae have 12 segments, but all of these (Monomorium inquietum, Monomorium rotundatum, Monomorium floricola, Monomorium shilohense, Monomorium trake) have more than one pair of standing hairs on the alitrunk. Also, the eyes of rotundatum and trake are small (0.17-0.19 x HW) and almost circular, whilst in floricola and inquietum the head is brown in colour.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -27.68658° to -27.74739°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Botswana (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.

  • sryetum. Monomorium sryetum Bolton, 1987: 413 (w.) BOTSWANA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Botswana: Maxwee, 11.ii.1976, no. 38, mopane woodland (A. Russell-Smith).
    • Type-depository: BMNH.
    • Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 267.
    • Distribution: Botswana.

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 1.5, HL 0.42, HW 0.32, CI 76, SL 0.27, SI 84, PW 0.21, AL 0.44.

Median portion of clypeus with its anterior margin transverse between the apices of the clypeal carinae, the latter weakly developed but strongly divergent anteriorly. Anterior and lateral margins of projecting median portion of clypeus meeting in obtuse angles, without prominent denticles where they meet. Maximum diameter of eye 0.25 x HW. In profile the eye elongate and narrow, conspicuously much longer than high. Ommatidia of eye arranged as an outer ring which encloses a single longitudinal inner row of 3 ommatidia. In full-face view the eyes distinctly far in front of the midlength of the sides. Scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, markedly failing to reach the concave occipital margin. Promesonotum shallowly convex in profile and on a higher level than the propodeum. Metanotal groove not impressed. Propodeal spiracle small but conspicuous. Petiole with a short anterior peduncle which is subtended by an elongate and distinct strip-like ventral process. Petiole node low and bluntly subconical, the ventral margin bulging and convex behind the end of the subpetiolar process. Postpetiole smaller than petiole, its node only slightly more broadly rounded than that of the petiole. Dorsum of head with sparse standing hairs which are mostly confined to the occipital margin. Dorsal alitrunk with a single pair of standing hairs, situated at the pronotal humeri. Petiole and postpetiole each with a single pair of hairs but first gastral tergite with standing hairs evenly distributed . Sculpture absent except for very short and weakly developed cross-ribs traversing the metanotal groove . Colour very pale yellow, the gaster whitish yellow; no trace of brown anywhere on the head or body.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Botswana: Maxwee, mopane woodland, 11.ii.1976, no. 38 (A. Russell-Smith) (The Natural History Museum).

References

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.