Monomorium kineti

Weber (1943: 312-313) summarizes what little is known of the biology of this species. He notes that kineti is found on the tops of the highest peaks in the Imatong Mountains and occurs only at considerable elevations. The first nest found was in cavities in the base of a dead woody stem and in chambers in the surrounding soil. Other nests discovered were located in the soil under small stones, among the roots of grasses and in the pith-cavities of herbaceous stems. In the open the ants move sluggishly and may ascend tree trunks, but in general kineti appears to be subterranean. Coccids are tended in the underground galleries. (Bolton 1987)

Identification
Bolton (1987) - M. kineti is a distinctive species of the Afrotropical schultzei-complex and not closely related to Monomorium minutum, as it was first described by Weber. M. kineti and its close relatives Monomorium crawleyi, Monomorium arboreum, Monomorium firmum and Monomorium vecte share, within the complex, the characters of broad metanotal groove which has long strong cross-ribs, and an enlarged very conspicuous propodeal spiracle.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Sudan.

Nomenclature

 *  kineti. Monomorium (Monomorium) minutum subsp. kineti Weber, 1943c: 359, pl. 15, figs. 10, 19 (w.q.m.) SUDAN. Raised to species: Bolton, 1987: 396.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.2-2.4, HL 0.56-0.60, HW 0.45-0.48, CI 77-80, SL 0.46-0.47, SI 100-102, PW 0.26-0.30, AL 0.62-0.64 (6 measured).

Clypeal carinae moderately developed, close together and not strongly divergent anteriorly. Anterior clypeal margin between apices of clypeal carinae approximately transverse to feebly concave, the carinal apices not marked by projecting denticles or sharply prominent angles. Maximum diameter of eye 0.21-0.22 x HW and with 6-7 ommatidia in the longest row. In full-face view the eyes with their posterior margins at the midlength of the sides and the scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, reaching the occipital margin. Head in full-face view with sides approximately straight to very shallowly convex, posteriorly the sides broadly curved to their junction with the short, centrally feebly concave, occipital margin. Head in profile with both dorsal and ventral surfaces convex. Promesonotum in profile with its dorsal outline evenly convex, the highest point just in front of the midlength and conspicuously on a much higher level than the propodeum. Posterior quarter of mesonotum abruptly truncated behind the final pair of hairs and descending about vertically to the conspicuously impressed broad metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsal outline gently sloping posteriorly then abruptly rounding into the steep declivity. Dorsum of propodeum flat or more usually weakly transversely concave between a pair of blunt and poorly defined longitudinal rims which separate the dorsum proper from the sides and which are divergent posteriorly. Propodeal spiracle large and conspicuous, not pinhole-like. Subpetiolar process very small indeed, vestigial in some individuals. Node of petiole in profile subconical and narrowly rounded above, the postpetiole smaller than the petiole, lower and evenly convex dorsally. Head and body unsculptured and smooth everywhere except for hair-pits and vestiges of sculpture on the pleurae. Metanotal groove traversed by long strong cross-ribs, which continue for some distance down the sides of the alitrunk. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with standing hairs present, the promesonotum with 6-7 pairs. Colour uniform dull yellow to brownish yellow.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, female, male, Sudan: Imatong Mts, Mt Kineti, 10,458 ft (3190 m), 27.vii.1939, no. 1 334 (MCZ syntype workers no. 1335) (N. A. Weber) [examined].