Monomorium junodi

Based on specimen record details, this is a species that is tolerant of a wide range of conditions as it has been found in habitats from savannah to forest. They have been found nesting in the ground, and foraging on the ground and in vegetation.

Identification
Bolton (1987) - Among the Afrotropical members of the salomonis-group nine species have standing hairs present on the dorsal alitrunk. They are found in junodi, Monomorium hirsutum, Monomorium albopilosum, Monomorium excelsior, Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium delagoense, Monomorium vatranum, Monomorium marshi, and some populations of Monomorium rufulum. Alitrunk hairs may be numerous or may be restricted to a single pair at the pronotal humeri. M. junodi is isolated from this assemblage by the characters discussed in the introduction to the salomonis-group and those indicated in the key to species.

The distribution of junodi appears to be restricted to southern Africa, it having been recorded only from Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and its closest relative appears to be delagoense, from which it is separated by its much coarser sculpture. In junodi the cephalic dorsum is evenly blanketed with dense, sharply defined reticulate-punctate sculpture, as is the entire alitrunk both dorsally and laterally, so that the intensity of sculpture on the dorsal head and alitrunk is approximately the same. In delagoense the cephalic dorsum is finely shagreenate to superficially reticulate, the sculpture much effaced and conspicuously less dense and intense than the sharply reticulate-punctate dorsal alitrunk.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 * junodi. Monomorium salomonis subsp. junodi Forel, 1910e: 441 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Combination in M. (Xeromyrmex): Santschi, 1919b: 235. Subspecies of delagoense: Santschi, 1928f: 192; Arnold, 1944: 14. Raised to species and senior synonym of pretoriensis: Bolton, 1987: 346.
 * pretoriensis. Monomorium delagoense var. pretoriensis Arnold, 1944: 15 (q.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of junodi: Bolton, 1987: 346.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.8-3.6, HL 0.70-0.94, HW 0.56-0.80, CI 79-87, SL 0.52-0.70, SI 85-100, PW 0.38-0.50, AL 0.80-1.02 (30 measured).

Median portion of clypeus with anterior free margin shallowly concave. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter 0.22-0.25 x HW, with 9-11 ommatidia in the longest row. Posteroventral occipital angles broadly and evenly rounded. Metanotal groove narrow and feebly impressed. Propodeal dorsum flat to shallowly concave longitudinally, the lateral margins of the propodeum often sharply defined, in some samples represented by a pair of carinae. In general the more concave the propodeal dorsum the more sharply defined are the lateral margins. Petiole node in dorsal view anteroposteriorly compressed, its dorsal surface narrow. Dorsum and sides of head, entire alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole sharply reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite reticulate to shagreened. Area of head between and immediately behind the frontal lobes usually finely longitudinally striate. Dorsum of head with several pairs of standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes. Promesonotum dorsally with at least a single pair of hairs (at the pronotal humeri), more often with up to 5 or 6 pairs present. Propodeal dorsum hairless. Petiole with 1-2 and postpetiole with 2-3 pairs of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with numerous standing hairs which are evenly distributed over the sclerite in front of the apical transverse row. Colour uniform medium to dark brown, often with the gaster darker in shade.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, South Africa: Transvaal, Shiluvane (Junod) [examined].

Determination Clarifications
Bolton (1987) - Four workers of junodi in the BMNH collection are labelled as types of Monomorium afrum var. faurei Arnold [South Africa: Pretoria, Rosslyn, xii.1925 (J. C. Faure).] This is merely a manuscript name, never having been published by Arnold. The specimens in question bear no relationship to faurei Santschi (=exiguum), from Gabon, nor should they be associated with afrum. The name occurs, however, in Samways (1983), as faurei Arnold; the correct identity of Samway's material is junodi.