Monomorium schultzei

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium schultzei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. schultzei
Binomial name
Monomorium schultzei
Forel, 1910

Monomorium schultzei casent0904593 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium schultzei casent0904593 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Monomorium schultzei.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. schultzei complex in the M. monomorium species group. M. schultzei is closest related to Monomorium excensurae and Monomorium bevisi. The last named is a larger and more densely hairy species, and it is also distinctly darker in colour. Differences between schultzei and excensurae are discussed under the latter name.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -28.92417° to -34.35°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa (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.

  • schultzei. Monomorium schultzei Forel, 1910f: 18 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated), 1 syntype queen.
    • Type-localities: South Africa: Little Namaland, Steinkopf (L. Schultze), Namibia: Prince of Wales Bay, S Angra Pequena (L. Schultze).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • [Misspelled as schulzei by Forel, 1914d: 244.]
    • Status as species: Forel, 1914d: 244; Arnold, 1916: 231; Emery, 1922e: 173; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 867; Ettershank, 1966: 92; Collingwood, 1985: 272; Bolton, 1987: 410 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 266; Borowiec, L. 2014: 126.
    • Distribution: Lesotho, Namibia, 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 2.0-2.2, HL 0.54-0.58, HW 0.42-0.46, CI 77-80, SL 0.42-0.46, SI 97-102, PW 0.25-0.30, AL 0.54-0.60 (10 measured).

Clypeal carinae sharply developed, close together and subparallel, at most only weakly divergent anteriorly. Area of clypeus between the carinae concave and the anterior c1ypeal margin between the apices of the carinae concave. Prominent median section of clypeus narrow, its anterior and lateral margins. separated by an angle which may be sharp, but without projecting denticles. Eyes relatively large, maximum diameter 0.24-0.27 x HW and with 7-8 ommatidia in the longest row. In full-face view the posterior margins of the eyes at the midlength of the sides of the head. Antennal scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, just reaching the occipital margin. Sides of head behind eyes shallowly convex, the occipital margin broadly and shallowly concave. Major features of head very similar to that of excensurae, Fig. 61. Promesonotum in profile convex, its highest point in front of the promesonotal midlength and on a much higher level than the propodeum. Mesonotum sloping posteriorly and its outline almost flat. Metanotal groove very narrow and only feebly impressed, traversed by short and inconspicuous cross-ribs. Propodeal dorsum sloping posteriorly, the spiracle minute and pinhole-like. Petiole in profile with an elongate narrow peduncle which is subtended by a small lobiform anteroventral process. Node of petiole narrow and subconical, narrowly rounded above. Postpetiole smaller, lower and more broadly rounded than petiole. In general the shape of the petiole and postpetiole is similar to that seen in excensurae (Fig. 75) but the subpetiolar process is smaller and the node slightly narrower. Viewed from above the dorsal surfaces of both nodes are distinctly broader than long. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with standing hairs, the promesonotum with 5-6 pairs. Sculpture absent except for scattered minute hair-pits, the feeble metanotal cross-ribs and some meso- and metapleural vestiges. Colour predominantly yellow but the cephalic dorsum and gastral tergites duller and with a pale brownish yellow tint in some.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, female, South Africa: Cape Provo (Klein-Namaland), Steinkop (L. Schultze); Namibia: Prince of Wales Bay, Angra Pequena (L. Schultze) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Addison P., and M. J. Samways. 2000. A survey of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) that forage in vineyards in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
  • Arnold G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 159-270.
  • 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.
  • Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
  • Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
  • Forel A. 1910. Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika ausgeführt in den Jahren 1903-1905 von Dr. Leonhard Schultze. Vierter Band. Systematik und Tiergeographie. D) Formicidae. Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena 16: 1-30.
  • Forel A. 1914. Formicides d'Afrique et d'Amérique nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 50: 211-288.
  • Robertson H. G. 2000. Formicidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea). Cimbebasia Memoir 9: 371-382.
  • Sharaf M. R., H. M. Al Dhafer, and S. A. Aldawood. 2014. First record of the myrmicine ant genus Meranoplus Smith, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species and notes on the zoogeography of Southwestern Kingdom Saudi Arabia. PLoS ONE 9(11): e111298 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111298).
  • 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