Monomorium delagoense

Some of the relatively few known specimens of this species are noted as being found in Bushveld.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. subopacum complex in the M. salomonis species group. The only member of the complex to possess standing hairs on the dorsal alitrunk, delagoense is also the species which links the opacum-complex to the subopacum-complex. It is very close to Monomorium junodi but is distinguishable by its reduced cephalic sculpture, which is much less strongly developed than on the promesonotum. In junodi the head and promesonotum are approximately evenly sculptured, both areas being densely reticulate-punctate. Most populations of junodi tend to have more than one pair of hairs on the dorsal alitrunk, although in some only the pair at the pronotal humeri is present. In delagoense hairs behind the humeral pair are apparently never developed.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Mozambique, South Africa.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium salomonis r. delagoense Forel, 1894b: 87 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Mozambique: Delagoa (= Maputo) (Liengme).
 * Type-depositories: BMNH, MHNG.
 * Forel, 1910e: 441 (q.m.).
 * Combination in M. (Xeromyrmex): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 870.
 * Subspecies of salomonis: Forel, 1910e: 441; Forel, 1914d: 245; Santschi, 1914e: 17; Arnold, 1916: 226; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 870; Emery, 1922e: 178; Ettershank, 1966: 88.
 * Status as species: Santschi, 1928f: 192; Santschi, 1936a: 38; Arnold, 1944: 14 (in key); Bolton, 1987: 341 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Senior synonym of grahamstownense: Bolton, 1987: 341; Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Senior synonym of lacrymans: Bolton, 1987: 341; Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Distribution: Mozambique, South Africa.
 * grahamstownense. Monomorium delagoense var. grahamstownense Santschi, 1936a: 39.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: South Africa: Cape Prov., Grahamstown (no collector’s name).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * [First available use of Monomorium salomonis r. delagoense var. grahamstownensis Forel, 1914d: 245 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name (Bolton, 1987: 341).]
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Arnold, 1916: 227; Emery, 1922e: 178; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 870; Arnold, 1944: 14; Ettershank, 1966: 89.
 * Junior synonym of delagoense: Bolton, 1987: 341; Bolton, 1995b: 262.
 * lacrymans. Monomorium delagoense var. lacrymans Arnold, 1944: 15, fig. 19 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: South Africa: Natal, Weenen (H.P. Thomasset).
 * Type-depository: BMNH.
 * Subspecies of delagoense: Ettershank, 1966: 90.
 * Junior synonym of delagoense: Bolton, 1987: 341; Bolton, 1995b: 263.

Description
Bolton (1987) - TL 3.1-3.9, HL 0.72-0.92, HW 0.58-0.77, CI 80-85, SL 0.56-0.70, SI 88-95, PW 0.40-0.50, AL 0.84-1.08 (20 measured).

Anterior free margin of median portion of clypeus evenly concave. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter 0.22-0.24 x HW and with 9-11 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsum of head with 3-4 pairs of standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes. Dorsal alitrunk with a single pair of long hairs at the pronotal humeri, but otherwise hairless. Petiole node with one pair and postpetiole with 2-3 pairs of backward directed hairs, the first gastral tergite with numerous hairs which are more or less evenly distributed over the entire sclerite. Dorsum of head finely shagreenate to superficially reticulate everywhere, usually with fine longitudinal striolation between and immediately behind the frontal lobes. Alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate everywhere, the promesonotal dorsum distinctly more strongly sculptured than the cephalic dorsum behind the level of the eyes. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite usually with fine superficial reticulation only, but sometimes this is absent, leaving the surface featureless. Sometimes the superficial reticulation is denser basally and fades out posteriorly on the sclerite. Colour uniform medium to dark brown, or with the gaster somewhat darker than the head and alitrunk.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, Mozambique: Delagoa (= Maputo) (Liengme) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Arnold G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 159-270.
 * 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.
 * Forel A. 1910. Note sur quelques fourmis d'Afrique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 54: 421-458.
 * Forel A. 1914. Formicides d'Afrique et d'Amérique nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 50: 211-288.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Koen J. H., and W. Breytenbach. 1988. Ant species richness of fynbos and forest ecosystems in the Southern Cape. South Afr. Tydskr. Dierk. 23(3): 184-188.
 * Prins A. J. 1964. Revised list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7: 77-93.
 * Prins A. J. 1967. The ants of our National Parks. Koedoe - African Protected Area Conservation and Science 10(1): 63-81.
 * Prins A. J., and J. J. Cillie. 1968. The ants collected in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi game reserves. The Lammergeyer 8: 40-47.
 * Samways M. J., R. Osborn, and F. Carliel. 1997. Effect of a highway on ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species composition and abundance, with a recommendation for roadside verge width. Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 903-913.
 * Santschi F. 1914. Meddelanden från Göteborgs Musei Zoologiska Afdelning. 3. Fourmis du Natal et du Zoulouland récoltées par le Dr. I. Trägårdh. Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handlingar. 15: 1-44.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004