Monomorium ebangaense

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. setuliferum species group. Monomorium ebangaense is closest to Monomorium notulum and Monomorium setuliferum, and should not be confused with any member of the bicolor-complex except superficially perhaps with Monomorium rufulum, because that species shows a reduced basal tooth on the mandible as does ebangaense. M. rufulum, however, has very long strong ammochaete hairs ventrally on the head, is larger (HW 0·59-0·70), has a much narrower head and longer scapes (CI 75-80, SI 112-120), has eyes situated at the midlength of the sides (Fig. 42), and has the first gastral tergite densely hairy.

M. nyasae, synonymized with ebangaense, shows only a slight variation in colour. The former is dull yellow, varying in shade over the body, whilst the latter is dull brownish yellow on the head and alitrunk, and blackish brown on the gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Malawi.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) bicolor st. ebangaense Santschi, 1937d: 225, figs. 17-19 (w.) ANGOLA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Angola: Ebanga, 1932-33, no. 142 (A. Monard).
 * Type-depository: MHNC.
 * Subspecies of bicolor: Ettershank, 1966: 88.
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1987: 367 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Senior synonym of nyasae: Bolton, 1987: 367; Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Distribution: Angola, Malawi.
 * nyasae. Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) nyasae Arnold, 1946: 63, figs. 14, 14a (w.) MALAWI.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Malawi (“Nyasaland”): Mt Zomba foothills, 10.xi.1943 (G. Arnold).
 * Type-depository: SAMC.
 * Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 91.
 * Junior synonym of ebangaense: Bolton, 1987: 367; Bolton, 1995b: 265.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.5-2.7, HL 0.60-0.64, HW 0.54-0.57, CI 88-90, SL 0.46-0.50, SI 84-88, PW 0.34-0.37, AL 0.70-0.74 (5 measured).

Very close indeed to Monomorium notulum and matching the description given for that species, but the eyes averaging slightly smaller, maximum diameter 0.23-0.26 x HW (as opposed to 0.25-0.28 x HW in notulum). Otherwise ebangaense and notulum differ only by the minor sculptural characters noted in the key. On the whole ebangaense has more sharply defined and intense cephalic and pronotal sculpture than notulum, where it appears amorphous or smeared. This apparent difference in sculpture may well be a gradient character and hence unreliable, but as material is in short supply the two may be kept separate for the present. I suspect that further collecting will see ebangaense and its junior synonym Monomorium nyasae, fall into the synonymy of notulum.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, Angola: Ebanga, 1932-33, no. 142 (A. Monard) (CdF) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1946. New species of African Hymenoptera. No. 6. Occasional Papers of the National Museum of Southern Rhodesia. 2: 49-97.
 * Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.
 * Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Santschi F. 1937. Résultats de la Mission scientifique suisse en Angola (2me voyage) 1932-1933. Fourmis angolaises. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 44: 211-250.