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Monomorium zulu
| Monomorium zulu | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. zulu |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium zulu Santschi, 1914
| |
This species has been collected in open woodland habitats.
Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. mediocre complex in the M. salomonis species group. Despite differences between zulu and Monomorium rabirium (see description below and identification and description sections for rabirium), I suspect that future collections of these forms made between their respective type-localities in Botswana and South Africa may well show a gradation of one form into the other.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 20.183333° to -24.9725°.
| 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. |
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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.
- zulu. Monomorium zulu Santschi, 1914e: 18 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “many”).
- Type-locality: South Africa: Zululand, Junction of Umfolozis, 10.vii.1905 (I. Trägårdh).
- Type-depository: NHMB (perhaps also I NHRS).
- Status as species: Arnold, 1916: 215; Emery, 1922e: 173; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 867; Ettershank, 1966: 93; Collingwood, 1985: 273; Bolton, 1987: 365 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 268; Borowiec, L. 2014: 127.
- Distribution: South Africa.
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 1.7-1.8, HL 0.44-0.46, HW 0.34, CI 74-77, SL 0.29-0.30, SI 85-88, PW 0.20-0.22, AL 0.44-0.46 (2 measured).
Very closely related to Monomorium rabirium (mediocre-complex) and sharing its diagnostic characters, as given under the description of rabirium. The two differ in the following features.
rabirium Maximum diameter of eye 0·26-0·28 x HW, with 7 -8 ommatidia in the longest row. SI 92-97. Cephalic dorsum with traces of superficial reticular patterning close to occipital margin. Pronotal dorsum reticulate to shagreenate.
zulu Maximum diameter of eye 0·24-0·26 x HW, with 5-6 ommatidia in the longest row. SI 85-88. Cephalic dorsum smooth with scattered small pits close to occipital margin. Pronotal dorsum smooth.
Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, South Africa: Natal, Zululand, Junction of Umfolozis , 10.vii.1905 (I. Tragardh) (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) [examined].
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 365, see also)
- Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
- Santschi, F. 1914e. Meddelanden från Göteborgs Musei Zoologiska Afdelning. 3. Fourmis du Natal et du Zoulouland récoltées par le Dr. I. Trägårdh. Göteb. K. Vetensk. Vitterh. Samh. Handl. 15: 1-44 (page 18, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Arnold G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 159-270.
- Collingwood, C. A. "Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7 (1985): 230-302.
- Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
- Parr C. L., H. G. Robertson, H. C. Biggs, and S. L. Chown. 2004. Response of African savanna ants to long-term fire regimes. Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 630-642.
- Santschi F. 1914. Meddelanden från Göteborgs Musei Zoologiska Afdelning. 3. Fourmis du Natal et du Zoulouland récoltées par le Dr. I. Trägårdh. Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handlingar. 15: 1-44.