Monomorium holothir

This species was collected from mangos, Mangifera sp. (Anacardiaceae) imported into Saudi Arabia from Kenya. It was also found in leaf litter next to Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton (Asclepiadaceae). Some workers were found nesting in a thin layer of clay soil above sandy soil, while several workers were collected from leaf litter under a Conocarpus L. tree (Combretaceae) (Sharaf et al., 2018).

Monomorium holothir is a comparatively rare species originally described from Kenya and prior to Sharaf et al. (2018) only known from the type locality (Bolton, 1987; Hita Garcia, Wiesel & Fischer, 2013). Their collections represent a new species record for Saudi Arabia, and it is highly likely an introduction to the country.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. katir complex in the M. monomorium species group. This small yellowish large-eyed species is superficially very similar to the Namibian Monomorium katir, but is much more densely hairy, has relatively somewhat smaller eyes and more sharply developed clypeal carinae, and has the head more strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Other related large-eyed species, which are darker in colour, are discussed under  Monomorium balathir.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Saudi Arabia.

Biology
In South Africa, specimens have been found in shrubland and savanna.

Nomenclature

 *  holothir. Monomorium holothir Bolton, 1987: 393 (w.) KENYA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.9, HL 0.50, HW 0.36, CI 72, SL 0.34, SI 94, PW 0.24, AL 0.48.

Clypeal carinae sharply developed, conspicuously elevated and crest-like, divergent anteriorly and reaching the anterior margin at a pair of short low triangular projecting angles. These projecting angles separate the transverse to feebly concave anterior margin of the prominent median portion of the clypeus from its lateral margins. Eyes relatively large, their maximum diameter 0.30 x HW and with 8-9 ommatidia in the longest row. In profile the maximum diameter of the eye distinctly greater than the distance between the anteriormost point of the eye and the nearest point of the mandibular articulation. In full-face view the posterior margins of the eyes slightly in front of the midlength of the sides. Antennal scapes, when laid straight back, failing to reach the occipital margin. With the head in full-face view the sides shallowly convex behind the eyes, scarcely converging posteriorly until close to the occipital comers, then rounding into the broad and moderately concave occipital margin. Head in profile conspicuously dorsoventrally flattened, the ventral surface more convex than the dorsal. Promesonotal dorsum evenly shallowly convex in profile, sloping posteriorly to the narrow and feebly impressed metanotal groove. Metanotal cross-ribs short and inconspicuous, the propodeal spiracle small and pinhole-like. Propodeal dorsum evenly sloping, the posterior third more strongly sloping than the anterior two-thirds but without strongly differentiated dorsal and declivous faces. Petiole node high and narrowly subconical, narrowly rounded above, the overall shape and ventral process very similar to that of katir (Fig. 74). All dorsal surfaces of head and body conspicuously hairy, the promesonotum somewhat abraded but with about 8 pairs of standing hairs. Sculpture absent except for scattered hair-pits and short metanotal cross-ribs. Colour yellow to light brownish yellow.

Paratypes. TL 1.8-1.9, HL 0.48-0.50, HW 0.36-0.37, CI 74-75, SL 0.33-0.34, SI 92, PW 0.22-0.24, AL 0.46-0.48 (2 measured). Maximum diameter of eye 0.30-0.32 X HW; otherwise as holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Kenya: L. Baringe, 1.xii.1983 (J. Darlington). Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.
 * Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
 * Sharaf M., H. M. Al Dhafer, A. S. Aldawood, and F. Hita Garcia. 2018. Ants of the Monomorium monomorium species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species from southwestern Saudi Arabia. PeerJ 6:e4277; DOI 10.7717/peerj.4277