Bondroitia

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Nomenclature

 *  BONDROITIA [Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini]
 * Bondroitia Forel, 1911c: 300 (footnote) [as subgenus of Monomorium]. Type-species: Monomorium (Martia) coecum (junior synonym of Diplomorium lujae), by monotypy.
 * [Bondroitia also described as new, but as subgenus of Diplomorium, by Forel, 1911d: 398; see discussion in Bolton, 1987: 275.]
 * Bondroitia subgenus of Diplomorium: Forel, 1917: 243; Emery, 1922e: 194
 * Bondroitia junior synonym of Diplomorium: Ettershank, 1966: 98.
 * Bondroitia revived status as genus: Bolton, 1987: 275.

Description
Bolton (1987):

Worker
Monomorphic myrmicine ants with noticable size-variation in any series but not exhibiting allometric variation. PF 2,2, the palpomeres subcylindrical (lujae). Mandibles with 4 teeth arranged on a markedly oblique masticatory margin, the blades crossing over at full closure. Trulleum small and closed. Eyes absent. Antennae 11-segmented with a 3-segmented apical club. Frontal lobes closely approximated, the posterior portion of the clypeus where it passes between them narrow, only about as wide as one of the frontal lobes or slightly narrower. Median portion of clypeus narrowly transversely convex posteriorly, shallowly concave anteriorly, especially in larger workers. Clypeus without longitudinal carinae. Promesonotum flat dorsally. Metanotal groove impressed on dorsal alitrunk. Metapleural glands small and inconspicuous. Fore coxae enormously enlarged by comparison to mid and hind coxae. Propodeal spiracle enormous, very close to margin of declivity and low on the side, its orifice circular and behind the midlength of the sclerite. Petiole nodiform in profile, the anterior peduncle lacking a ventral process. Postpetiole small, conspicuously less voluminous than the petiole in profile. Postpetiole in dorsal and lateral view narrowly attached to gaster, not articulating high on the first gastral segment. Sting small and inconspicuous. (Diagnosis based on Bondroitia lujae, worker of Bondroitia saharensis is unknown).

Queen
Enormously larger than con specific worker, head relatively very small in comparison to body size. PF 2,2 (lujae, saharensis). Mandible with 3 teeth, the blade narrow and with a markedly oblique masticatory margin. Anterior clypeal margin unarmed, evenly shallowly convex and not overhanging the mandibles. Median portion of clypeus evenly transversely convex, not raised nor bicarinate. Clypeus posteriorly broadly inserted between frontal lobes, the outer margins of the latter constricted behind, with a pinched-in appearance behind the lobes themselves. Eyes large and close to midlength of sides of head. Antennae 11 -segmented, the club weakly 4-segmented, not strongly defined but rather the antennomeres gradually increasing in size apically. Mesothoracic axillae small, subtriangular and widely separated on the dorsum. Mesoscutum and scutellum fitting tightly together, not separated by a broad impression. Metapleural glands small and inconspicuous. Venation of forewing with cross-vein m-cu present. Peduncle of petiole lacking an anteroventral process. In profile the postpetiolar sternite a very small sclerite. In dorsal view the postpetiole subglobular and only narrowly attached to the gaster.

Additional References

 * Bolton, B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 54: 263-452