Monomorium niloticum

In Oman this species was found nesting under a rock with several unidentified silverfish (Thysanura) in nest galleries. Several workers were observed foraging on the ground. (Sharaf et al 2018)

The broad geographic distribution of this species can be interpreted in the light of the species diverse habitat preferences, including the deserts, mountainous, and cultivated sites. Several worker series were found nesting in either dry or humid soil beneath rocks in an undisturbed site in the KSA where a broad diverse of plant species exists including Acacia (Fabaceae), Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae), Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb (Rosaceae), Juniperus L. (Cupressaceae), Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae), Ficus sp. (Moraceae), Hibiscus L. (Malvaceae) and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae) (Sharaf et al., 2021).

Identification
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - This is the most conspicuous and abundant of the larger Monomorium species throughout western and central areas of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. It is not recorded from Kuwait or eastern coastal areas of Arabia and seems not to occur in desert sands away from townships, agricultural and irrigated areas. There is some variation in dorsal pilosity but the alitrunk always has several pairs of hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Egypt, Israel, Oman.

Nomenclature

 *  niloticum. Monomorium niloticum Emery, 1881b: 533 (w.) EGYPT. Combination in M. (Xeromyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 179. Subspecies of venustum: Forel, 1910a: 6; Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1916: 170; Stitz, 1917: 346; Finzi, 1936: 175. Revived status as species: Santschi, 1936a: 37. See also: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 352. Current subspecies: nominal plus gracilicorne.
 * matame. Monomorium matame Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 350, fig. 22 (w.) OMAN.
 * Junior synonym of niloticum: Sharaf et al., 2021: 39.

Type Material
Monomorium matame'': Holotype: worker, Oman, Wadi Matam, l.II.1986, M.D. Gallagher. - Paratypes: Oman: workers, same series as holotype. - Saudi Arabia: 1 queen, Nuayriyah, 20.V.1980, W Buttiker. - Yemen: workers, Sana'a, II.1991, A. van Harten.

Worker
Collingwood and Agosti (1996) - HW 0.80-0.88; CI 77-85; SI 100-120; EL/HW 0.285-0.32.

The head is somewhat rectangular in shape but narrowing above the eyes to the widely emarginate occiput. The rather flat mesonotum falls obliquely to the broad and deep mesopropodeal furrow. The propodeal dorsum is at a lower level than the mesonotum with the convex dorsum rounding smoothly into the descending face. The propodeal furrow is well defined with raised side margins. There are 3-4 pairs of hairs on the pronotum, 4-5 on the mesonotum, two on the propodeum, two on the petiole, three on the postpetiole and 6-7 on the first gastral tergite. The head and promesonotum have superficial sculpture with a general shining appearance; the propodeum is punctate with a transverse striate effect. Head, alitrunk and nodes are pale red with the gaster usually darker.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * Wheeler W. M., and W. M. Mann. 1916. The ants of the Phillips Expedition to Palestine during 1914. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 60: 167-174.