Monomorium parvinode

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. australe complex in the M. salomonis species group. Only known from the holotype worker from southern Ethiopia, a short series from Sudan, and two workers from Harar, Ethiopia, which are tentatively associated here, parvinode appears closely related to the Ethiopian Monomorium carbo, the Senegalese Monomorium dakarense, and the southern African species Monomorium opacior and Monomorium minor, all of which share the same very characteristic cephalic sculpture and similar arrangement of standing pilosity.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ethiopia, Sudan.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium salomonis var. parvinode Forel, 1894b: 88 (w.) ETHIOPIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Ethiopia (“Südabessinien”): (no further data) (A. Ilg).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1922e: 177.
 * Subspecies of salomonis: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 870; Ettershank, 1966: 91.
 * Status as species: Santschi, 1936a: 39; Bolton, 1987: 355 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 265; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 213.
 * Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan.

Bolton (1987) - Sudan material matches the holotype well in most respects but has a somewhat larger petiole node and smaller eyes. Similarly, the two workers from Harar (MCZ) match the Sudanese specimens and show the same differences from the holotype. Given the paucity of material I have decided to include these short series under parvinode until some idea of variation in these characters can be ascertained.

Worker
Bolton (1987) - TL 2.2, HL 0.60, HW 0.47, CI 78, SL 0.44, SI 94, PW 0.30, AL 0.68.

Median portion of anterior clypeal margin more or less transverse. Sides of head very weakly convex and feebly convergent behind the eyes. Maximum diameter of eye 0.30 x HW and with 10 ommatidia in the longest row. Metanotal groove feebly impressed. Dorsum of head with 2 pairs of standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes, the first situated just behind the level of the eyes and the second at the occipital margin. Dorsal alitrunk without standing hairs. Petiole node with one pair, and postpetiole with two pairs of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with several pairs of standing hairs on the basal half, the apical half of the sclerite hairless except for the apical transverse row. Cephalic dorsum opaque, blanketed by fine dense sculpture which is reticulate-shagreenate to punctulate-shagreenate; the mid-dorsal area with minute and very fine longitudinal patterning so that the entire head has a silky appearance. Dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate to reticulate-punctate. First gastral tergite finely shagreenate, the shagreening feebler apically than basally. Head and alitrunk medium yellowish brown, the gaster much darker brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, Ethiopia: Sudabessinien' (Ilg) [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.
 * Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222