Monomorium alamarum

This species has been hand collected from desert habitats.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. setuliferum species group. Within the group alamarum is a very conspicuous species, rendered easily recognizable by the form of its eyes coupled with the lack of standing pilosity on head, alitrunk, and first gastral tergite in front of the apical row, and the superficial reticular patterning faintly present on the head. In all other species included in the group either standing hairs are numerous (Monomorium havilandi, Monomorium xanthognathum, Monomorium macrops), or the head is very obviously densely sculptured (Monomorium ebangaense, Monomorium notulum, Monomorium setuliferum), or both (Monomorium hannonis).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia.

Nomenclature

 *  alamarum. Monomorium alamarum Bolton, 1987: 367, fig. 58 (w.) NAMIBIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.60, HW 0.49, CI 82, SL 0.40, SI 82, PW 0.29, AL 0.56. Eyes large, conspicuously in front of the midlength of the sides, the maximum diameter of the eye 0.33 x HW and with 8-9 ommatidia in the longest row. In profile the eye distinctly oblique, with its long axis tilted at about 350 to the long axis of the head. The anterior lobe of the eye drawn out anteroventrally down the side of the head and the eye feebly reniform. In profile the promesonotum evenly convex, the metanotal groove not impressed. Dorsal surfaces of head, alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole without standing hairs of any description, but with very sparse fine appressed pubescence present. First gastral tergite with similar appressed pubescence but without standing hairs except for an apical transverse row. Dorsum of head everywhere with vestigial very fine superficial reticular patterning. Dorsal alitrunk more strongly sculptured, finely reticulate-shagreenate on the pronotum to closely reticulate or even reticulate-punctate on the propodeum. First gastral tergite with fine superficial reticular patterning as on the head. Colour uniform dark brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.4, HL 0.56-0.68, HW 0.45-0.56, CI 79-83, SL 0.38-0.50, SI 80-90, PW 0.26-0.32, AL 0.52-0.66 (12 measured). As holotype but maximum diameter of eye 0.33-0.36 x HW and with 8-10 ommatidia in the longest row.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Namibia: Namib Desert, Ganab, 15° 37' E, 23° 08' S, sample G 339, 10.vi.1982 (A. C. Marsh). Paratypes. 11 workers with same data as holotype; 6 workers, Namib Desert, Tsondab Vlei, 15° 22' E, 23° 55' S, sample T 6, 4.iv.1982 (A. C. Marsh) (BMNH; ).