Monomorium sryetum

Found in semi-open habitats such as bushveld and acacia woodland.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. boerorum complex in the M. monomorium species group. This minute species is rendered very distinctive by the combination of its eye form, 12-segmented antennae, and extremely reduced alitrunk pilosity. The form of the eye described above is shared with only five other Afrotropical species in which the antennae have 12 segments, but all of these (Monomorium inquietum, Monomorium rotundatum, Monomorium floricola, Monomorium shilohense, Monomorium trake) have more than one pair of standing hairs on the alitrunk. Also, the eyes of rotundatum and trake are small (0.17-0.19 x HW) and almost circular, whilst in floricola and inquietum the head is brown in colour.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Botswana.

Nomenclature

 *  sryetum. Monomorium sryetum Bolton, 1987: 413 (w.) BOTSWANA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 1.5, HL 0.42, HW 0.32, CI 76, SL 0.27, SI 84, PW 0.21, AL 0.44.

Median portion of clypeus with its anterior margin transverse between the apices of the clypeal carinae, the latter weakly developed but strongly divergent anteriorly. Anterior and lateral margins of projecting median portion of clypeus meeting in obtuse angles, without prominent denticles where they meet. Maximum diameter of eye 0.25 x HW. In profile the eye elongate and narrow, conspicuously much longer than high. Ommatidia of eye arranged as an outer ring which encloses a single longitudinal inner row of 3 ommatidia. In full-face view the eyes distinctly far in front of the midlength of the sides. Scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, markedly failing to reach the concave occipital margin. Promesonotum shallowly convex in profile and on a higher level than the propodeum. Metanotal groove not impressed. Propodeal spiracle small but conspicuous. Petiole with a short anterior peduncle which is subtended by an elongate and distinct strip-like ventral process. Petiole node low and bluntly subconical, the ventral margin bulging and convex behind the end of the subpetiolar process. Postpetiole smaller than petiole, its node only slightly more broadly rounded than that of the petiole. Dorsum of head with sparse standing hairs which are mostly confined to the occipital margin. Dorsal alitrunk with a single pair of standing hairs, situated at the pronotal humeri. Petiole and postpetiole each with a single pair of hairs but first gastral tergite with standing hairs evenly distributed. Sculpture absent except for very short and weakly developed cross-ribs traversing the metanotal groove. Colour very pale yellow, the gaster whitish yellow; no trace of brown anywhere on the head or body.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Botswana: Maxwee, mopane woodland, 11.ii.1976, no. 38 (A. Russell-Smith).

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.