Monomorium bogischi

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Sparks et al. (2015) - A member of the M. rothsteini species group. A small, glossy, brown species with a sinuous to straight anterodorsal margin of the clypeus, smooth mesonotum and a narrow petiole node.

The workers of M. bogischi are very difficult to separate from Monomorium torrens, Monomorium subapterum, and Monomorium speculum but can be distinguished from these by the presence of a prominent anterior transverse carina on the propodeum.

Distribution
This species is known from the south east corner of South Australia and the south west corner of Queensland.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Genetics
COI sequences. Genbank accession numbers for this species are KC572927, KC572929–572931 and KC572999–573000.

Nomenclature

 *  bogischi. Monomorium subapterum var. bogischi Wheeler, W.M. 1917b: 112 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in M. (Notomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 170; in Chelaner: Ettershank, 1966: 96; in Monomorium: Taylor, 1987b: 4. Junior synonym of rothsteini: Heterick, 2001: 408. Revived from synonymy: Sparks, Andersen & Austin, 2015: 497. Raised to species: Sparks, Andersen & Austin, 2015: 497.

Sparks et al. (2015) - Wheeler (1917) proposed the names M. subapterum and M. subapterum var. bogischi as part of a discussion on the origins of aptery and subaptery stating that he would describe them “elsewhere”. No subsequent formal description of these forms occurred in the literature, but as brief morphological criteria are provided to distinguish M. subapterum from ‘M. rothsteini var. humilius’ in Wheeler (1917), this is sufficient information to validate the names under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Worker
Sparks et al. (2015) - (n=9). HW 0.64–0.88, HL 0.70–0.92, EL 0.14–0.19, PMH 0.25–0.31, PH 0.21–0.25, PNH 0.16–0.2, LHW 0.41–0.57, EW 0.10–0.12, PML 0.41–0.55, ML 0.7–0.92, PL 0.31–0.39, PNWdv 0.16–0.23.

Small species with a small rectangular head; posterior cephalic margin broadly and shallowly depressed to broadly V shaped. Clypeus anterodorsal margin sinuous to almost straight, frontolateral carinae forming smooth ridges; anteroventral margin of the clypeus without a small median projection, margin appears straight. Sculpture on frons limited to a few strigae present only on antennal lobes; coarse lateral cephalic strigae not reaching anterior eye margin, a few very fine strigae may reach margin. Eyes large, EW > 0.23 x LHW, 12–13 ommatidia in longest vertical axis, 10 in longest horizontal axis.

Mesonotum smooth and shining, a few strigulae on posterior mesonotum. Mesopleuron alveolate with a few strigae extending from metanotal groove to promesonotal suture on dorsal half. Propodeum in lateral view with dorsolateral angles clearly forming an obtuse angle, sculpture alveolate with strigae extending over metapleural gland bulla and almost reaching metanotal groove; dorsal surface with anterior transverse carina weekly present, transverse and longitudinal strigae absent, posterolateral angles rounded on dorsal half. Petiole node narrow, less than 2 x eye width when viewed from above, shape in posterior view tapered to narrowly rounded point when viewed laterally with anterior and posterior faces converging to narrowly rounded dorsum. Petiole node without sculpture, postpetiole with fine reticulate sculpture laterally and along posterior basal margin. T1 completely smooth and shining, without sculpture.

Head and mesosoma light to dark brown with a reddish-orange tinge, petiole and postpetiole somewhat darker, legs dark brown, metasoma dark brown.

Queen
Sparks et al. (2015) - (n=3). HW 1.38–1.52, HL 1.25–1.35, EW 0.21–0.25, EL 0.29–0.33, ML 2.38–2.55, PeH 0.68–0.70, PNWdv 0.49–0.51, PPH 0.53–0.59.

Head triangular, broader behind the eyes that in front, vertex straight sculpture strigulate on antennal lobes, almost reaching median ocellus, remainder of frontal area smooth, laterally irregularly strigulate. Frontal clypeal margin straight to very mildly concave. Mandibles strigate with a large apical and two smaller preapical teeth. When angled towards eye antennal scapes not surpassing dorsal eye margin.

Mesoscutum in profile evenly rounded from pronotum to scutellum, scutellum rounded and raised only slightly above surface of mesoscutum, surface smooth and shining except for pitted setal insertion points. Pronotum, mesopleuron and propodeum finely reticulate, dorsal half of mesopleuron above central groove almost smooth. Propodeum with a series of parallel ridges on ventral margin of lateral surface that curve onto posterior surface. Petiole node triangular in profile, rounded in posterior view, petiole and postpetiole alveolate to reticulate, petiole laterally with transverse ridges on ventral half, postpetiole with irregular ridges on lateral and posterior surfaces. Metasomal tergites and sternites finely reticulate.

Colour entirely reddish-brown, metasomal tergites with a darker band along posterior margins. Head and mesosoma with many long and short, erect, dull setae except for a broad glabrous area that spans entire length of mesoscutum.

Type Material


An additional 3 workers and 1 queen (in ) and 8 workers and 1 queen (in ) from the original syntype series were excluded as paralectotypes by Sparks, Andersen & Austin, 2015.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Sparks K. S., A. N. Andersen, and A. D. Austin. 2014. Systematics of the Monomorium rothsteini Forel species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a problematic ant group in Australia. Zootaxa 3893(4): 489-529.
 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.