Monomorium setuliferum

This species has been found in open and semi-open habitats such as savanna, acacia woodland, and bushveld.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - M. setuliferum is distinguished from Monomorium notulum and Monomorium ebangaense only by relatively feeble characters pertaining to the size and shape of the eyes. Thus in setuliferum the maximum diameter of the eye is 0.29-0.33 x HW and the eye in profile is conspicuously reniform. In notulum and ebangaense the eye averages smaller, maximum diameter 0.23-0.28 x HW and is not reniform but rather has the anterior angle drawn out into a more or less straight lobe which is directed anteroventrally on the side of the head. In both notulum and setuliferum the eye shows variation in shape, and further collecting may force the synonymy of all three names, as notulum and ebangaense are only separated by weak sculptural differences which may merely reflect variation in a single species.

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

Nomenclature

 *  setuliferum. Monomorium setuliferum Forel, 1910f: 16 (w.) BOTSWANA. See also: Bolton, 1987: 370.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.5-2.7, HL 0.54-0.63, HW 0.47-0.55, CI 86-90, SL 0.40-0.49, SI 85-90, PW 0.30-0.35, AL 0.64-0.74 (15 measured).

Eyes conspicuously in front of midlength of sides, markedly oblique with respect to the long axis of the head and usually distinctly reniform in profile, drawn out into a lobe anteroventrally which extends forward and downward on the side of the head anteriorly. Shape of eye variable even in a single series but conforming to this general pattern. Maximum diameter of eye 0.29-0.33 x HW and with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. Ventral surface of head with a number of long, anteriorly curved hairs. Metanotal groove shallowly impressed in profile. Standing hairs extensively suppressed on dorsal surfaces; absent from head behind level of frontal lobes, absent from alitrunk, absent from first gastral tergite except for the apical transverse row. Nodes of petiole and postpetiole each with a single pair of backward directed hairs. Fine appressed pubescence is present on all dorsal surfaces. Dorsum of head blanketed by reticulate-punctate to reticulate-shagreenate sculpture, usually with an extensive mid-dorsal patch which has extremely fine scratch-like striolae superimposed on the ground-sculpture. Dorsum and sides of alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate everywhere, dorsally the punctures usually more sharply defined on the propodeum than on the pronotum, laterally the pronotum often reticulate rather than reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite reticulate-shagreenate basally, fading to superficially reticular apically on the sclerite. Colour varying from yellowish brown to dark brown, the gaster often darker in shade than the alitrunk; sometimes the head also darker than the alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, Botswana: Kalahari, Khakea (L. Schultze) [examined].