Monomorium osiridis

Apparently an inhabitant of semi-open areas, this species has been found in open Miombo Woodland, Bushveld, a Combretum/Commiphora thicket, and savannah.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - This small species is closely related to Monomorium zulu and Monomorium rabirium from southern Africa but tends to have slightly smaller eyes and is more strongly sculptured on the head. The fine but dense shagreenate sculpture seen on the head of osiridis contrasts strongly with the almost unsculptured appearance of zulu and rabirium, where the head retains only the faintest vestiges of superficial reticular patterning, or is smooth. Otherwise they are very similar, sharing the characters of very reduced pilosity, anteriorly shifted eyes and a lower palp formula (PF 1 ,2) than is usual in the salomonis-group (PF 2,2).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya.

Nomenclature

 *  osiridis. Monomorium osiridis Santschi, 1915c: 258, fig. 7 (w.) KENYA. See also: Bolton, 1987: 354.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 1.7-1.9, HL 0.46-0.48, HW 0.34-0.38, CI 74-79, SL 0.32-0.34, SI 90-94, PW 0.22-0.24, AL 0.46-0.50 (6 measured).

Anterior margin of median portion of clypeus shallowly concave. With head in full-face view the eyes distinctly in front of the midlength of the sides and the antennal scapes, when laid straight back, failing to reach the occipital margin. Maximum diameter of eye 0.21-0.24 x HW and with 6-7 ommatidia in the longest row. Sides of head very shallowly convex and weakly convergent posteriorly behind the level of the eyes. Ocipital margin very shallowly concave. Metanotal groove represented by a transverse line across the dorsum; in profile the metanotal groove not impressed. Dorsum of head lacking standing hairs. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole and postpetiole without backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite without hairs, lacking even the apical transverse row. Apical transverse row of hairs present on the second and third gastral tergites. Mandibular sculpture very feeble, effaced on the apical half of each blade. Cephalic dorsum finely shagreenate between inconspicuous shallow pits. A mid-dorsal longitudinal strip, leading back from the clypeus, is unsculptured and shining. Dorsal alitrunk reticulate-shagreenate anteriorly, the sculpture bcoming stronger posteriorly on the promesonotum; propodeal dorsum finely reticulate-punctate. Sides of alitrunk finely reticulate to weakly reticulate-punctate, with a smooth patch low down on the side of the pronotum. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate to granulate. First gastral tergite very weakly shagreenate basally, but this fades out posteriorly leaving the sclerite smooth and shining. Colour uniform dull yellow.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, Kenya: Bura, 1050 m, iii.1912, st. no. 61 (Alluaud & Jeannel) [examined].