Monomorium nirvanum

This species has been collected in Bushveld.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. mediocre complex in the M. salomonis species group. A very distinctive small species of the salomonis-group as represented in sub-Saharan Africa, the Namibian nirvanum is characterized by its lack of pilosity on the first gastral tergite (apart from the apical transverse row), its extremely reduced cephalic sculpture, the position of its eyes, and retention of a single pair of hairs on both the petiole and postpetiole whilst all standing hairs have been lost from the alitrunk and from the cephalic dorsum behind the frontal lobes.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia.

Nomenclature

 *  nirvanum. Monomorium nirvanum Bolton, 1987: 351 (w.) NAMIBIA.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - Holotype. TL 3.3, HL 0.84, HW 0.62, CI 74, SL 0.70, SI 113, PW 0.42, AL 0.98.

Mandibles with narrow blades, the masticatory margin with 4 sharp teeth. Apical tooth acute, narrow and disproportionately long, well over twice the length of the second tooth. Mandibles unsculptured and smooth. Palp formula 1,2, the single maxillary palp segment short clavate, almost bulbous. Antennal segmentation almost obliterated by partial fusion of the funicular segments, the limits of individual segments difficult to discern. Antennae with 12 segments, the apical club of 3 segments (not 11 and 2 as in the original description). The two apical club segments are flattened from side to side, the apical more so than the preapical, and almost fused together so that their junction is difficult to see. The apical club segment is slightly concave on its inner surface and convex on its outer. This may be artifact of preservation but both antennae are alike. Anterior clypeal margin with the median portion broadly evenly convex. Median portion of clypeus broadly convex across, without carinae. Frontal lobes very small and the posterior margin of the clypeus between them with the suture obliterated. Eyes fractionally behind the midlength of the sides, their maximum diameter about 0.22 x HW. Promesonotum evenly long-convex, the metanotal groove shallowly impressed. Propodeum on a lower level than the promesonotum and evenly shallowly convex, with the dorsum rounding broadly into the declivity. Petiole node in profile subglobular, with an extremely short thick peduncle; subsessile in appearance. In dorsal view the petiole node slightly broader than long, not sharply differentiated from its anterior peduncle and the latter scarcely narrower than the node. Postpetiole by contrast very reduced, occupying less than half the volume of the petiole and longer than broad. Dorsal surfaces of entire head and body lacking standing hairs. Entire ant glossy brown, smooth and shining, unsculptured except for faint superficial vestiges in places.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, Algeria: Biskra (Noualhier) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.