Monomorium tenebrosum

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Monomorium tenebrosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. tenebrosum
Binomial name
Monomorium tenebrosum
Sparks, 2015

Nothing is known about the biology of Monomorium tenebrosum.

Identification

Sparks et al. (2015) - A member of the M. rothsteini species group. Large, glossy, dark brown species with a concave clypeal margin and a small median projection on the anteroventral clypeal margin. Propodeal longitudinal strigae present and appear to form a triangle with a carina that extends between dorsolateral angles.

Although this species is described from a single collection from one locality in the Pilbara region in Western Australia, it is both morphologically and genetically distinct (Sparks et al. 2014) from any other species in the complex.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

This species is known from a single locality in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -22.6019° to -22.6019°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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

Genetics

COI sequences. Genbank Genbank accession number for this species is: KC57280.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • tenebrosum. Monomorium tenebrosum Sparks, in Sparks et al. 2014: 524, figs. 8a-c, 11g (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 24 paratype workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype Australia: Western Australia, 10 km. N Tom Price, -22.6019, 117.7457, 17.x.2009, KSS177 (K.S. Sparks & C. Petit); paratypes: 24 workers with same data.
    • Type-depositories: WAMP (holotype); SAMA, WAMP (paratypes).
    • Distribution: Australia.

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

Description

Worker

(n=9). HW 0.98–1.03, HL 0.99–1.03, EL 0.2–0.21, PMH 0.35–0.37, PH 0.29–0.33, PNH 0.23, LHW 0.59–0.6, EW 0.12–0.14, PML 0.59–0.66, ML 0.99–1.09, PL 0.45–0.47, PNWdv 0.25–0.27.

Large species with a large, square head; posterior cephalic margin shallowly depressed medially. Anterodorsal margin of the clypeus concave with angulate frontolateral carinae extending beyond anteroventral clypeal margin forming obtuse angles, carinae with a wavy margin; anteroventral margin with a small median projection. Frons strigate, restricted to antennal lobes and area in between or limited to a few strigae only present on antennal lobes; coarse lateral cephalic strigae reach anterior eye margin. Eyes medium, EW 0.20–0.23 x LHW, 13 ommatidia in longest vertical axis, 11 in longest horizontal axis.

Mesonotum rugulose-strigulate on lateral curvature only, remainder smooth and shining, rarely with strigulae on posterior region; metapleural groove shallow. Mesopleuron alveolate with a few irregular strigulae extending anteriorly from metanotal groove. Propodeum in lateral view with dorsolateral angles clearly forming an obtuse angle, sculpture alveolate, with strigae extending over metapleural gland bulla but not reaching metanotal groove, a few strigulae on lateral face of posterodorsal corners; dorsal surface with anterolateral transverse carina weekly present, transverse strigae indistinct, longitudinal strigae present and forming a triangle with a carina that extends between posterodorsal corners. Petiole node narrow, less than 2 x eye width when viewed from above shape in posterior view tapering from widest point to narrowly rounded apex, in lateral view with anterior and posterior faces converging, apex narrow and rounded; posterior surface finely reticulate, restricted to lateral surface and basal margin, postpetiole finely reticulate, smooth dorsally. T1 completely smooth and without sculpture.

Head, mesosoma and legs dark chestnut brown except trochanters light brown and mandibles orange brown, metasomal tergites dark brown, almost black, cuticle with a high gloss.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Western Australia, 10 km N Tom Price, -22.6019, 117.7457, 17 Oct 2009, K.S. Sparks, C. Petit, KSS177 (deposited in WAM). Paratypes. Western Australia, 24 workers, same data as holotype (deposited in South Australian Museum, WAM).

Etymology

The specific name is taken from the Latin word for “dark” and refers to the dark brown colour of this species.

References

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