Monomorium kitectum

A South African specimen was collected in a pitfall trip in Acacia savanna.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A relatively small but conspicuous species closely related to Monomorium willowmorense but separated from it by the numerous characters indicated in the key.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia.

Nomenclature

 *  kitectum. Monomorium kitectum Bolton, 1987: 347, fig. 49 (w.) NAMIBIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.60, HW 0.45, CI 75, SL 0.46, SI 102, PW 0.30, AL 0.70.

Anterior free margin of median portion of clypeus transverse to extremely feebly convex, not indented medially. Head in full-face view with sides very shallowly convex and occipital margin almost transverse, with only the shallowest degree of concavity. Eyes relatively large, the maximum diameter 0.31 x HW and with 9 ommatidia in the longest row. With the alitrunk in profile the promesonotal dorsal outline almost flat behind the anterior curvature and sloping shallowly to the metanotal groove; the latter almost unimpressed, making only the slightest of indentations in the outline. Dorsum of propodeum flattened but not impressed, the dorsum rounding narrowly into the sides but without margination. Petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view of approximately equal width, the latter only fractionally broader than the former. Petiole in profile with the node cuneate, very narrowly rounded dorsally. Subpetiolar process indistinct, forming a low inconspicuous flange which runs back almost to the level of the spiracle. In profile the cephalic dorsum with appressed sparse pubescence but without standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes. Ventral surface of head with some fine projecting hairs. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole and postpetiole each with one pair of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with sparse appressed pubescence, lacking hairs except for a single pair at about the midlength and a transverse row at the apex of the sclerite. Dorsum of head polished and shining, the surface with an extremely faint superficial reticular patterning only. Promesonotal dorsum reticulate anteriorly, the sculpture becoming denser posteriorly. Propodeal dorsum reticulate to feebly reticulate-shagreenate. Sides of pronotum superficially reticulate as head, remainder of alitrunk sides more strongly reticulate or reticulate-shagreenate. First gastral tergite very faintly superficially reticulate, shining. Colour brown, the head and gaster darker in shade than the alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole.

Paratypes. TL 2.2-2.3, HL 0.58-0.60, HW 0.43-0.45, CI 73-75, SL 0.44-0.46, SI 100-102, PW 0.30-0.32, AL 0.68-0.70 (5 measured). As holotype but in two the first gastral tergite with another pair of hairs, sited between the base and the pair at the tergal midlength. In one paratype the alitrunk is almost as dark in colour as the head and gaster, and in another the subpetiolar process is slightly convex, forming a low elongate lobe rather than a straight-edged flange. Maximum diameter of eye 0.29-0.31 x HW, with 8-9 ommatidia in the longest row.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Namibia: Namib Desert, 15° 36' E, 23° 04' S, sample P 22, pitfall, 1984 (A. C. Marsh). Paratypes. 5 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ).