Monomorium mantazenum

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. viator complex in the M. salomonis species group. Within the complex mantazenum is differentiated by its relatively small eyes, uniformly dark colour and lack of hairs on the alitrunk. One sample of this species matches the type-series in all respects except for its colour, it being dark brown rather than blackish brown to black.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia.

Nomenclature

 *  mantazenum. Monomorium mantazenum Bolton, 1987: 348 (w.) NAMIBIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.7, HL 0.70, HW 0.53, CI 76, SL 0.62, SI 117, PW 0.34, AL 0.82.

Anterior margin of median portion of clypeus with a very small median indentation. Head in full-face view with sides roughly parallel to slightly anteriorly divergent in front of the eyes, distinctly convergent posteriorly behind the eyes. Occipital margin concave medially. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter 0.26 x HW and with 9 ommatidia in the longest row. Antennal scapes relatively long, SI > 115. Pronotal dorsum in profile convex anteriorly, the posterior portion of the pronotum and the mesonotum forming a single almost flat surface which slopes posteriorly. Metanotal groove not impressed, the propodeal dorsum on a lower level than the mesonotum. Propodeal dorsum flattened, the margins separating dorsum and sides very feebly delimited. Petiole node in profile small and low, bluntly cuneate in shape. Cephalic dorsum in holotype with only a single pair of standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes, this pair situated close to the occipital margin (the holotype is most probably slightly abraded, see under paratypes below). Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole and postpetiole each with one pair of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with hairs scattered but more or less evenly distributed over the sclerite in front of the apical transverse row. Dorsum of head roughly reticulate to reticulate-granulate everywhere. Pronotal dorsum reticulate, the edges of the reticulations becoming raised and more sharply defined posteriorly on the mesonotum; propodeum weakly reticulate-punctate dorsally. Sides of pronotum with superficial reticular patterning, remainder of sides of alitrunk reticulate to shallowly reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite glossy, with superficial reticular patterning only. Colour black to blackish brown, the mandibles dull yellow.

Paratypes. TL 2.8-3.0, HL 0.74-0.80, HW 0.55-0.60, CI 74-77, SL 0.66-0.72, SI 117-122, PW 0.34-0.39, AL 0.85-0.92 (9 measured). Maximum diameter of eye 0.26-0.28 x HW, with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. As holotype but dorsum of head with 2-3 pairs of hairs straddling the midline behind the level of the frontal lobes. Colour of mandibles varying from dull yellow to light brown. Petiole node dorsally more broadly rounded in some paratypes than in holotype. Body colour may be uniformly black or blackish brown, or the gaster may be a different shade to the head and alitrunk. The median indentation of the clypeus, feeble in the holotype, is absent in some paratypes.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Namibia: Namib Desert, 14° 5 1 ' E, 23° 01' S, pitfall, sample P 12, 1984 (A. C. Marsh). Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype; 3 workers with same data but 14° 39' E, 22° 59' S, sample P 13; 4 workers, Namib Desert, Swart-bank, 14° 50' E, 23° 16' S , sandy plain, l.x.1981, sample 174 (A. C. Marsh) (BMNH; ).