Monomorium rothsteini species group

Sparks et. al. (2015) revised the Australian M. rothsteini complex. This page is based entirely on this study. To maintain consistency with the Monomorium species-groups created by Bolton (1987) and Heterick (2006) the "complex" is referred to here and in other related pages as a species-group.

There is a key for the M. rothsteini species-group: Key to Monomorium rothsteini species complex

Heterick (2001) revised the entire Australian Monomorium fauna but treated Monomorium rothsteini as a widespread, variable species. Heterick's Australian Monomoriumspecies-groups are detailed here: Australian Monomorium species-groups.

Species

 * Monomorium bogischi
 * Monomorium broschorum
 * Monomorium capeyork
 * Monomorium eremoides
 * Monomorium eremum
 * Monomorium geminum
 * Monomorium hertogi
 * Monomorium hoffmanni
 * Monomorium humilior
 * Monomorium kidman
 * Monomorium leda
 * Monomorium maryannae
 * Monomorium merepah
 * Monomorium mitchell
 * Monomorium oodnadatta
 * Monomorium pilbara
 * Monomorium rothsteini
 * Monomorium speculum
 * Monomorium stagnum
 * Monomorium subapterum
 * Monomorium tenebrosum
 * Monomorium topend
 * Monomorium torrens

Diagnosis
Worker (n=201). HW 0.62–1.05, HL 0.68–1.03, EL 0.14–0.22, PMH 0.23–0.49, PH 0.21–0.41, PNH 0.14–0.35, LHW 0.39–0.62, EW 0.1–0.14, PML 0.66–0.7, ML 0.64–1.17, PL 0.27–0.55, PNWdv 0.16–0.35. Head: Shape appearing square or rectangular but always longer than wide; posterior cephalic margin in full face view straight to mildly concave or broadly v-shaped, antennae 12-segmented with a well differentiated 3- segmented club; scape reaching approximately three quarters of the way to vertexal margin of head; mandible with three teeth; anterior margin of clypeus mildly to deeply concave; coarse strigae present laterally between mandibular articulation and eye; strigae may be present on frons above antennal lobes or restricted to antennal lobes or area in between; eye oval in shape, ventral margin flattened.

Mesosoma: Pronotum rounded in lateral profile, promesonotal suture clearly present, faint, or absent, posterior mesonotum slightly raised or flat; metanotal groove shallow or deeply impressed, porcate; mesonotum coarsely strigate, punctuate, both, or smooth. Propodeum with or without a raised anterodorsal transverse carina, dorsal margin in lateral view rounded, flat or sloping posteriorly, dorsal surface concave or flat to slightly rounded, with or without longitudinal carinae and transverse strigae, posterior surface near vertical or sloping. Petiole node broad to narrow and rounded dorsally, postpetiole rounded, approximately three quarters the height of the petiole. Mesopleuron and propodeum coarsely alveolate with fine to coarse striations; metanotal groove always with numerous transverse ridges; petiole without sculpture or with fine reticulation, postpetiole almost always finely reticulate; very fine reticulation present or absent on first metasomal segment.

Pilosity sparse with long and short erect or appressed white or yellow setae on head; always with one pair of elongate, inwardly curved setae arising from centre of clypeal lateral carinae, and one pair of elongate erect setae arising from antennal lobes; erect setae on vertex curved anteriorly, setae on dorsal surface of pronotum inwardly curved, elongate erect setae on propodeum curved anteriorly, erect setae on petiole and postpetiole curved posteriorly.

Colour variable; head and mesosoma amber orange, dark orange brown, dark brown or almost black; metasoma almost always dark brown to black, rarely light brown or amber, cuticle with a high gloss on non-sculptured areas.

Additional Resources

 * Monomorium
 * Monomorium species groups
 * Australia