Monomorium fridae

One collection was made in fynbos habitat. Little else is known about this ant's biology.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. tchelichofi complex in the M. salomonis species group. M. fridae is given new status here as a valid species, reflecting the fact that it is not closely related to the Canary Island species Monomorium medinae, a very specialized form known only from those islands. The real affinities of fridae lie within the tchelichofi-complex and indeed fridae may be a senior synonym of tchelichofi itself. The two are remarkably similar in all respects except for size, fridae being a slightly smaller species with a fractionally narrower head and marginally longer scapes. Both share the same type-locality. Because of shortage of material referable to either name I have opted to keep them as separate species for the time being, but I strongly suspect that the acquisition of further samples will show fridae and tchelichofi to be synonymous by bridging the slight size gap shown in presently available material.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa.

Nomenclature

 *  fridae. Monomorium medinae r. fridae Forel, 1905b: 183 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Combination in M. (Xeromyrmex): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 870. Raised to species: Bolton, 1987: 344.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 3.1-3.2, HL 0.84-0.85, HW 0.67-0.68, CI 80-81, SL 0.68-0.70, SI 101-103, PW 0.40-0.42, AL 0.90-0.93 (3 measured).

Anterior margin of median portion of clypeus evenly concave. Sides of head notably convex in full-face view, the eyes situated at the widest point. Maximum diameter of eye 0.20-0.22 x HW, with 9 ommatidia in the longest row. Occipital margin of head very shallowly concave. With alitrunk in profile the promesonotal dorsum evenly convex, sloping posteriorly to the very feebly marked and scarcely impressed metanotal groove. Dorsum of propodeum flattened but not obviously concave, the dorsal surface rounding into the sides without distinct lateral marginations or carinae. Nodes of petiole and postpetiole in dorsal view both transversely elliptical, broader than long. Cephalic dorsum with 3-4 pairs of hairs which straddle the midline behind the level of the frontal lobes; without standing hairs at the occipital corners. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole node with one pair and postpetiole with 1-2 pairs of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with numerous hairs in front of the apical transverse row, these hairs widely separated but distributed more or less evenly over the sclerite. Dorsum of head shining, unsculptured except for a fine faint superficial reticular patterning everywhere. Promesonotal dorsum sculptured as head but the patterning usually more strongly marked, especially on the posterior portion of the mesonotum. Propodeal dorsum shallowly and weakly punctulate-granular. First gastral tergite shining, with faint superficial reticulate patterning. Colour uniform brown, the gaster the same colour as, or slightly darker than, the alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, South Africa: Cape Prov., Willowmore (H. Brauns) [examined].