Monomorium disertum

Specimen records show this species has been found in savanna, bushveld and other non-forest habitats.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. australe complex in the M. salomonis species group. A small yellowish species which seems related to Monomorium australe and its immediate allies, disertum differs from them by having relatively shorter scapes and lacking backward directed hairs on the petiole node. Apart from this disertum appears to have only a single pair of standing hairs on the first gastral tergite in front of the apical transverse row, whereas australe and allies have 2-3 pairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium salomonis var. diserta Forel, 1913j: 216 (w.) ZIMBABWE.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Zimbabwe (“Southern Rhodesia”): Shiloh, 10.v.1913, no. 172 (G. Arnold).
 * Type-depositories: BMNH, MHNG.
 * Combination in M. (Xeromyrmex): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 872.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Forel, 1916: 417 (in text); Emery, 1922e: 178; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 872.
 * Subspecies of salomonis: Arnold, 1916: 221; Ettershank, 1966: 88.
 * Subspecies of termitarium: Santschi, 1928f: 194; Santschi, 1936a: 39.
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1987: 342 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Material of the unavailable name petulans referred here by Bolton, 1987: 342.
 * Distribution: Zimbabwe.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.0-2.2, HL 0.52-0·60, HW 0.41-0.48, CI 77-81, SL 0.38-0.43, SI 89-93, PW 0.28-0.31, AL 0.58-0.64 (9 measured).

Anterior margin of median portion of clypeus transverse to shallowly concave. Sides of head extremely weakly convex in full-face view, the occipital margin very shallowly concave. Antennal scapes relatively short, SI < 95. Maximum diameter of eye 0.25-0.27 x HW, with 7-9 ommatidia in the longest row. Metanotal groove feebly impressed. Dorsum of head apparently with a single pair of standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes, situated just behind the level of the eyes. The available material is abraded and a second pair may be present close to the occipital margin. Dorsal alitrunk without hairs. Petiole node without hairs, the postpetiole with one backward directed pair. First gastral tergite with a single pair of standing hairs in front of the apical transverse row, situated approximately at the midlength of the sclerite. Head very finely shagreenate to reticulate-shagreenate, mid-dorsally usually with extremely fine longitudinal striolate markings. Pronotal dorsum finely shagreenate to reticulate-shagreenate, the sculpture becoming more obviously reticulate to reticulate-punctate on the propodeum. First gastral tergite with superficial reticular patterning only. Colour pale brownish yellow, the gaster sometimes slightly darker than the alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, Zimbabwe: Shiloh, 10.v.1913, no. 172 (G. Arnold) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection