Monomorium ocellatum

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. subopacum complex in the M. salomonis species group. M. ocellatum is known only from the syntype series. It is closely related to Monomorium subopacum but shows denser pilosity and finer sculpture than that species. The presence of a median ocellus in most of the worker syntypes should not be overstressed as a diagnostic feature because of its variable development even in the few workers available.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa.

Nomenclature

 *  ocellatum. Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) salomonis st. ocelletum Arnold, in Santschi, 1920d: 377 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Arnold, 1926: 229 (q.). Raised to species: Santschi, 1936a: 39; Arnold, 1944: 14; Bolton, 1987: 352.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 3.1-3.7, HL 0.76-0.86, HW 0.60-0.69, CI 77-82, SL 0.60-0.70, SI 100-103, PW 0.43-0.48, AL 0.92-1.06 (8 measured).

Anterior free margin of median portion of clypeus approximately transverse to concave. Eyes of moderate size, the maximum diameter 0.25-0.27 x HW and with 10-11 ommatidia in the longest row. Several workers in the type-series with a conspicuously developed median ocellus, but in others this is very small and in a few is vestigial. In general the ocellus is largest in large workers, but the variation seen in the type-series suggests that specimens lacking the ocellus may be found. Occipital margin of head conspicuously indented in full-face view. Promesonotum convex in profile, the highest point of the outline being at the junction of pro- and mesonotum, behind which the mesonotum slopes downwards to the narrowly impressed metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsum flattened and shallowly transversely concave. Dorsum of head in profile with about 5 pairs of standing fine hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes. In fresh specimens more may be present, but all the syntypes show signs of abrasion. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole with 1-2 and postpetiole with 2-3 pairs of fine backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with fairly dense fine pilosity on the basal third, the least abraded specimens showing about 6 pairs in this area. An apical transverse row of hairs is present on the first tergite. The area between the transverse row and the basal cluster of hairs shows one or two hairs in a few syntypes and it is probable that several may be 'present in fresh specimens; all the syntypes, however, show marked abrasion in this area. Dorsum of head opaque, blanketed by extremely fine dense sculpture which is reticulate-shagreenate to densely silkily striolate-granular. Promesonotal dorsum similarly sculptured but with fine dense reticulate ground sculpture showing through. Propodeal dorsum anteriorly as promesonotum but posteriorly becoming more obviously reticulate to reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite superficially reticulate. Colour brown, the gaster distinctly darker than the alitrunk.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Tshinguvho T. E., W. R. J. Dean, and H. G. Robertson. 1999. Conservation value of road verges in the semi-arid Karoo, South Africa: ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as bio-indicators. Biodiversity and Conservation 8: 16831695
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004