Monomorium anderseni

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the monomorium group. Monomorium anderseni is one of several M. laeve-like species that have a distribution wholly or largely confined to tropical Australia. This species can be distinguished from Monomorium laeve by the flattened, squamiform development of the nodes. Many workers also have a large propodeal spiracle, compared with a small spiracle in M. laeve. Monomorium anderseni can be separated from Monomorium disetigerum and Monomorium micula by the presence of erect and suberect setae on the frons, and more than one pair of erect setae on the alitrunk, and from Monomorium silaceum by the narrower head capsule (CeI ≤ 85, compared with CeI ≥ 86).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium anderseni Heterick, 2001: 395, figs. 33, 120, 125 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Northern Territory, Western Australia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 18 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Australia: Northern Territory, Manbulloo, SW Katherine, 25.x.1977 (P.J.M. Greenslade); paratypes: 3 workers with same data but 21-25.x.1977, 3 workers with same data but 24.x.1977, 5 workers with same data but 7-11.iv.1978, 1 worker 10 km. SW Katherine, 20.x.1977 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 1 worker 17 km. SW Katherine, 21.x.1977 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 3 workers 22 km. SW Katherine, 9.iv.1978 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 2 workers 23 km. SW Katherine, 9.iv.1978 (P.J.M. Greenslade).
 * Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Australia.

Worker
Holotype. HML 1.46; HL 0.54; HW 0.46; Cel 85; SL 0.41; SI 90; PW 0.30. Others. HML 1.24-1.50; HL 0.50-0.58; HW 0.41-0.43; Cel 75-85; SL 0.36-0.41; SI 87-97; PW 0.24-0.30 (22 measured).

As for the worker of Monomorium fieldi, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Eye large, eye width greater than 1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced as pair of bluntly rounded denticles. Posteromedial clypeal margin extending slightly posteriad of posterior surface of antennal fossae. Frontal lobes parallel, sinuate. Venter of head capsule without elongate, basket-shaped setae.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of microreticulation and striolae on and around katepisternum, otherwise promesonotum smooth and shining; dorsal promesonotal face evenly convex, or convex anteriad, otherwise flattened. Propodeal sculpture present as faint microreticulation with few striae, mainly on lower lateral surface on individuals seen; dorsal propodeal face gently convex; lobes present as blunt flanges. Declivitous face of propodeum smoothly convex. Erect and suberect propodeal setae >5. Propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal groove and declivitous face of propodeum.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuneate, dorsally rounded; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 4:3. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1 to near 4:3; height- length ratio of postpetiole near 2:1.

General characters. Colour bright gamboge yellow. Worker caste monomorphic.

Etymology
Named in honor of Dr. Alan Andersen, CSIRO, Darwin.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Andersen A. N., J. Lanoue, and I. Radford. 2010. The ant fauna of the remote Mitchell Falls area of tropical north-western Australia: Biogeography, environmental relationships and conservation significance. Journal of Insect Conservation 14: 647-661.
 * Heterick B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 353-459.