Monomorium barbatulum

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Turkey, Turkmenistan.

Nomenclature

 * . Monomorium barbatulum Mayr, 1877: 17 (w.) KAZAKHSTAN or UZBEKISTAN.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan: “Habitat in desertis Kisil-kum” (A. Fedtschenko).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * [Also described as new by Mayr, 1880: 36.]
 * [Misspelled as bartatulum by Collingwood, 1961a: 62.]
 * Emery, 1889a: 441 (q.m.).
 * Combination in M. (Xeromyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 176.
 * Status as species: Mayr, 1880: 36; André, 1883a: 332 (in key); André, 1884b: 541; Emery, 1889a: 441; Nasonov, 1889: 29; Dalla Torre, 1893: 65; Ruzsky, 1905b: 636; Emery, 1908h: 671; Karavaiev, 1910b: 58; Emery, 1922e: 176; Ruzsky, 1923: 4; Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1926a: 74 (in key); Santschi, 1936a: 35; Collingwood, 1961a: 62; Ettershank, 1966: 87; Pisarski, 1967: 396; Pisarski, 1970: 309; Tarbinsky, 1976: 79 (redescription); Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 538 (in key); Dlussky, 1981a: 17; Collingwood, 1985: 269; Kugler, J. 1988: 257; Dlussky, Soyunov & Zabelin, 1990: 233; Bolton, 1995b: 259; Schultz, R. et al. 2006: 206; Vonshak, et al. 2009: 43; Paknia, et al. 2010: 33; Collingwood, et al. 2011: 432; Borowiec, L. 2014: 116; Kiran & Karaman, 2020: 308.
 * Distribution: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.

Taxonomic Notes
Sharaf et al. (2021): Monomorium barbatulum looks similar to some members of the genus Trichomyrmex in terms of the following characters: polymorphic with 12-segmented antennae that lacking the well-defined terminal club; masticatory margin of mandibles armed with 3–4 teeth; propodeum unarmed. However, M. barbatulum lacks a critical diagnostic character for the genus Trichomyrmex which is the absence of the transverse striations on propodeal dorsum. With the availability of more material for a comprehensive taxonomic investigation, together with additional molecular evidence(s), we will be able to resolve properly the taxonomic status of the species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Collingwood C. A. 1961. The third Danish Expedition to Central Asia. Zoological Results 27. Formicidae (Insecta) from Afghanistan. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening 123: 51-79.
 * Collingwood C. A. 1985. Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7: 230-302.
 * Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474
 * Collingwood C.A., D.Agosti, M.R. Sharaf, and A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE, 4: 405474
 * Collingwood, C. A. and D. Agosti. 1996. Formicidae (Insects: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2) Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300-385.
 * Collingwood, C. A.. "Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7 (1985): 230-302.
 * Dlussky G. M., O. S. Soyunov, and S. I. Zabelin. 1990. Ants of Turkmenistan. Ashkabad: Ylym Press, 273 pp.
 * Dubovikoff D. A., and Z. M. Yusupov. 2018. Family Formicidae - Ants. In Belokobylskij S. A. and A. S. Lelej: Annotated catalogue of the Hymenoptera of Russia. Proceedingss of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences 6: 197-210.
 * Emery, C.. "Beiträge zur Monographie der Formiciden des paläarktischen Faunengebietes. (Hym.) Teil V. Monomorium." Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1908 (1908): 663-686.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Karavaiev V. 1911. Ameisen aus Transkaspien und Turkestan. Tr. Rus. Entomol. Obshch. 39: 1-72.
 * Khamraev A. S. 2003. Soil organisms and entomocomplexes in Khorezm and Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan). ZEF work paper for sustainable development in Central Asia No 6, 71 pages
 * Marikovsky P. I. 1979. Ants of the Semireche Desert. [In Russian.]. Alma Ata: Nauka, 263 pp.
 * Mokrousov M. V., and V.A. Zryanin. 2015. Materials on the early spring wasps and ants fauna of Uzbekistan (Hymenoptera: Vespomorpha: Chrysidoidea, Scolioidea, Pompiloidea, Vespoidea, Apoidea [Spheciformes], Formicoidea). Entomological research Russia and its neighboring regions 5: 36–48.
 * Paknia, O., A. G. Radchenko, and M. Pfeiffer. "New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran." Asian Myrmecology 3, no. 29-38 (2010).
 * Pisarski B. 1964. Fauna Mrowek Afganistanu. Bibliogr. k. 160-166, Nieoprawiony maszynopis pracy, Praca doktorska. Instytut Zoologiczny PAN, 1964, Bibliogr. p. 160-166
 * Schultz, R., A. G. Radchenko, and B. Seifert. "A critical checklist of the ants of Kyrgyzstan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 (2006): 201-207.
 * Sharaf M. R., B. L. Fisher, H. M. Al Dhafer, A. Polaszek, and A. S. Aldawood. 2018. Additions to the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Oman: an updated list, new records and a description of two new species. Asian Myrmecology 10: e010004
 * Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.