Monomorium khalidi

The type locality of this species is within the Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, a protected area consisting of an isolated granite mountain massif in southwestern Saudi Arabia. This a Nature Reserve located in the Al Bahah Province in the southwestern KSA at an elevational range of 470–2,222 m. The locality is characterized by relatively high rainfall, diverse habitats, and high biodiversity, as well as by the presence of large areas of terraced fields used for cultivating banana, coffee, figs, and lemon. The region has a diverse range of wild vegetation cover including plants of the Leguminosae (Fabaceae), composites (Asteraceae), and graminoides (Poaceae). Acacia (Fabaceae) and Juniper (Cupressaceae) are the most dominant plants (SWA, 2018; El-Hawagry et al., 2016). Shada Al-A’Ala harbors a high number of endemic animals including birds, mammals (SWA, 2018) and insects (El-Hawagry et al., 2016).

Identification
Monomorium khalidi can be distinguished by the combination of the following characters:
 * short scape failing to reach posterior head margin in full-face view
 * abundant mesosomal pilosity
 * straight outline of promesonotum
 * densely reticulatepunctate surfaces of head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole
 * promesonotum dorsally with at least five to six pair of hairs, promesonotum and propodeum each with three pairs

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia.

Nomenclature

 *  Monomorium khalidi Sharaf, in Sharaf et al., 2021: 34, figs. 18A-C (w.) SAUDI ARABIA (Al Baha).