Monomorium megalops

Specimen labels note collections from Victoria Desert, Casuarina, and clay soils of a minesite. These vague, eclectic notes are all that is known about the biology of .

Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the monomorium group. Apart from the shape and size of its eye, M. megalops is virtually identical with Monomorium sordidum, and may eventually prove to be no more than a variant of that widespread species.

Heterick (2009) - Monomorium megalops is identical to Monomorium sordidum, apart from its large, reniform eye.

Distribution
Heterick (2009) - The distribution of this species centres mainly on inland NSW and SA, but there is one record in the SWBP from Westonia, WA in the western goldfields.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium megalops Heterick, 2001: 406, figs. 40, 117, 118 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 15 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Emu Junction, Victoria Desert, 5.x.1976 (P.J.M. Greenslade); paratypes: 3 workers South Australia, Observatory Hill, 7.x.1976 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 2 workers South Australia, 12 km. W Emu, Victoria Desert, 5-10.x.1976 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 2 workers South Australia, 50 km. E Emu Junction, Victoria Desert, 5.x.1976 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 1 worker South Australia, Koonamore, iv.1973, trap 17 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 1 worker South Australia, 5 km. NE Koonamore Hsd, 26.ii.1973 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 1 worker South Australia, Koonamore, 25.ii.1973 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 2 workers South Australia, 2 km. NE Koonamore Hsd, 26.ii.1973 (P.J.M. Greenslade), 3 workers South Australia, Koonamore, 24-27.ii.1973, pitfall trap (P.J.M. Greenslade).
 * Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Heterick, 2009: 160.
 * Distribution: Australia.

Worker
Holotype. HML 1.30; HL 0.51; HW 0.41; CeI 82; SL 0.39; SI 94; PW 0.24. Others. HML 1.18-1.50; HL 0.47-0.58; HW 0.38-0.49; CeI 79-87; SL 0.35-0.43; SI 85-97; PW 0.20-0.27 (20 measured).

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

Head. Compound eyes reniform, with posterior surface of eye emarginate; Eye large, eye width greater than 1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Posteromedial clypeal margin extending slightly posteriad of posterior surface of antenna! fossae. Frontal lobes parallel straight.

Alitrunk. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform microreticulation, with few or no striae or costulae. Erect and suberect propodeal setae >5; propodeal setulae decumbent and subdecumbent. Propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal groove and declivitous face of propodeum.

General characters. Colour brown or tawny orange (head may be darker than alitrunk), gaster chocolate. Worker caste monomorphic.

Etymology
Greek: “large-eyed”.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Heterick B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 353-459.