Monomorium dictator

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. bicolor complex in the M. salomonis species group. M. dictator is closely related to Monomorium bicolor and Monomorium rufulum. It separates from the former by having the gaster much more densely hairy than in bicolor, and dictator lacks the very reduced fourth (basal) tooth on the mandible, which is characteristic of rufulum. Other members of the bicolor-complex, characterized together by their possession of dense reticulate-punctate sculpture on the head and alitrunk, and bicoloured body with the gaster blackish brown to black and the head and alitrunk reddish, separate from dictator as follows.

Monomorium westi, presently known only from Kenya, has the two longitudinal clypeal carinae terminating in freely projecting sharp teeth, not developed in dictator. Monomorium personatum, a species sympatric with dictator, has much larger eyes whose maximum diameter is 0.31-0.33 x HW, as opposed to 0.25 x HW in dictator. Monomorium hirsutum, known only from Ethiopia, has the dorsal alitrunk densely hairy; in dictator the alitrunk lacks standing hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) bicolor st. dictator Santschi, 1937d: 224, figs. 20, 21 (w.q.) ANGOLA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queen(s) (numbers not stated).
 * Type-locality: Angola: Ebanga, 1932-33 (A. Monard).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * Subspecies of bicolor: Ettershank, 1966: 88.
 * Status as species: Bolton, 1987: 341 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 261.
 * Material of the unavailable name impuriceps referred here by Bolton, 1987: 341.
 * Distribution: Angola.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.9, HL 0.74-0.76, HW 0.57-0.59, CI 77-78, SL 0.62-0.63, SI 107-109, PW 0.40, AL 0.86 (3 measured).

Third and fourth (basal) tooth of mandible subequal in size, the latter very slightly smaller than the former but not reduced to a minute denticle. Median portion of clypeus with its anterior free margin shallowly concave and flanked by rounded blunt angles, without projecting sharp teeth at the apices of the clypeal carinae. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter about 0.25 x HW and with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsal alitrunk without hairs but the first gastral tergite conspicuously pilose, with 6-8 pairs of evenly distributed hairs on the sclerite in front of the apical transverse row. Entirety of head and alitrunk reticulate-punctate. Head and alitrunk red to orange-red, the gaster blackish brown to black, without an orange or reddish patch mediobasally.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, female, Angola: Ebanga, 1932-33 (A. Monard) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
 * Santschi F. 1937. Résultats de la Mission scientifique suisse en Angola (2me voyage) 1932-1933. Fourmis angolaises. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 44: 211-250.