Monomorium talbotae

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium talbotae
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. talbotae
Binomial name
Monomorium talbotae
DuBois, 1981

Monomorium talbotae casent0103531 profile 1.jpg

Monomorium talbotae casent0103531 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

DuBois (1986) - This species was discovered in three nests of Monomorium minimum. It is presumed to be a social parasite in view of the morphological features it shares with other species of inquilinous Monomorium. Habitat (from notes of M. Talbot): “A high, dry field where vegetation was not dense and small patches of bare sandy soil were numerous. Grasses were mostly Poa compressa and Aristida sp. A variety of scattered forbes included Lespedeza capitata, Liatris aspersa, Rumex acetosella, and Solidago spp. Patches of Polytrichum piliferum moss were large and frequent and the red—tipped lichen, Cladonia cristatella var. vestita, was characteristic.” (DuBois, 1981a).


At a Glance • Workerless Inquiline  

Identification

DuBois (1986) - A member of the Monomorium minimum species group. Queen Winged; petiole convex; scutum and scutellum convex; metanotum (in lateral view) not projecting to level of propodeum and scutellum; propodeum rounded; clypeus scarcely emarginate, lacking teeth; anterior edge of scutum not projecting over pronotum; no depression on first gastral tergite.

Monomorium talbotae specimens are easily recognized by the relatively small size of the female and male (compared to the size of host male and female) and by their smooth and shining integument. Monomorium talbotae females and males are most likely to be confused with those of Monomorium inquilinum and Monomorium pergandei. The first differs from both the other species since the metanotum does not reach the level of the propodeum and scutellum.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 42.6° to 30.62°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
pChart

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
pChart

Biology

Castes

MCZ-ENT00032615 Monomorium talbotae hef.jpgMCZ-ENT00032615 Monomorium talbotae hal.jpgMCZ-ENT00032615 Monomorium talbotae hada.jpgMCZ-ENT00032615 Monomorium talbotae lbs.jpg
. Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Images from AntWeb

Monomorium talbotae casent0173041 head 1.jpgMonomorium talbotae casent0173041 profile 1.jpgMonomorium talbotae casent0173041 profile 2.jpgMonomorium talbotae casent0173041 profile 3.jpgMonomorium talbotae casent0173041 dorsal 1.jpgMonomorium talbotae casent0173041 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0173041. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • talbotae. Monomorium talbotae DuBois, 1981: 31, fig. 1 (q.m.) U.S.A. (Michigan).
    • Type-material: holotype queen, 7 paratype queens, 2 paratype males.
    • Type-locality: holotype U.S.A.: Michigan, Livingston County, E.S. George Reserve, 30.vi.1966 (M. Talbot); paratypes with same data.
    • Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); MBDC, MCZC, MTAC, UKLK (paratypes).
    • Status as species: DuBois, 1986: 112 (redescription); Wheeler, G.C., et al. 1994: 303; Bolton, 1995b: 267; Coovert, 2005: 66.
    • Distribution: U.S.A.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

DuBois 1986. Figures 155-163. Monomorium talbotae. 155—Female, lateral view. 156—Male, lateral view. 157—Mandible of male. 158—Labial palp of male. 159—Maxilla and maxillary palp of male. 160—Volsella of male. 161—Aedeagus of male. 162—Eighth sternite of male. 163—~Ninth sternite of male. FIGS. 164—166. Monomorium pergandei. 164—Female, lateral view. 165—Petiole of female, posterior view. 166—Postpetiole of female, posterior View. FIGS. 167-170. Monomorium inquilinum. 167—Female, lateral view. 168—Head of female, frontal view. 169—Petiole of female, posterior view. 170—Postpetiole of female, posterior view. Scales: Left (1 mm) for Figures 167-170. Right top (1 mm) for Figures 164—166. Right second (1 mm) for Figures 155-156. Right third (0.1 mm) for Figure 157. Right fourth scale (0.5 mm) for Figures 160-161. Right fifth scale (0.5 mm) for Figures 162-163. Right bottom scale (0.1 mm) for Figures 158-159.

Queen

DuBois (1986) - As described for Monomorium minimum except as follows. Head: (representing type locality; N= 8) HL 0.40-0.48 (0.44), HW 0.39-0.43 (0.40), SL 0.31-0.36 (0.34), IOD 0.09-0.10 (0.10), OD 0.04-0.06 (0.05), EL 0.08-0.09 (0.09), MOD 0.05-0.06 (0.06). Structure—CI 81-98 (92), SIL 74-80 (77), SIW 80-92 (84). In full frontal view, head broadest at or a little below occiput. Eye small in size. Scape reaching or surpassing occiput by an amount less than length of pedicel. Mandible with two teeth; maxillary palp 1-segmented; labial palp 1-segmented. Clypeal teeth absent (emargination greatly reduced where space between teeth should occur). Pilosity—Setae erect to suberect over entire surface of head. Sculpture—Entire surface of head smooth and shining with small to moderate piliferous punctures. Alitrunk: PW 0.27-0.33 (0.32), PL 0.19-0.22 (0.21), WL 0.63-0.72 (0.68). Structure—Mesopleural suture deflected ventrally at posterior end. Metanotum (in lateral view) not projecting to level of propodeum and scutellum. Propodeum rounded, basal and declivitous faces of approximately equal length. PI 30-32 (31). Three to 5 hamuli 0n hindwing. Sculpture—Smooth and shining throughout with small piliferous punctures. Petiole: Setae erect to suberect on all surfaces except venter which lacks setae. Entire surface smooth and shining with small piliferous punctures. Postpetiole: Dorsum of node convex. Anterior subpostpetiolar process enlarged into spine, located medially on venter. Setae erect to suberect on all surfaces, including venter. Entire surface (except dorsum of node) covered with small, dense, non-piliferous punctures. Dorsum of node smooth and shining with small piliferous punctures. Gaster: Setae of first gastral tergite not reaching level of dorsum of postpetiolar node. Color: Head and mandible light brown. Alitrunk and legs light brown, except for light yellow tibiae and tarsi. Petiole, postpetiole, and gaster light brown. All setae white.

Male

DuBois (1986) - Head: (representing type locality; N= 2) HL 0.39-0.43 (0.41), HW 0.42-0.43 (0.42), SL 0.32-0.35 (0.34), IOD 0.07-0.08 (0.08), OD 0.04—0.05 (0.04), EL 0.09-0.10 (0.10), MOD 0.06-0.08 (0.07). Structure—CI 100- 108 (104), SIL 81-82 (82), SIW 76-81 (79). Eye small in size. Mandible with 2 teeth; maxillary palp 1—segmented; labial palp 1-segmented. Clypeal teeth and frontal carinae as in female. Pilosity—As in female. Sculpture—As in female. Alitrunk: PW 0.29-0.30 (0.30), PL 0.20-0.22 (0.21), WL 0.63-0.68 (0.66). Structure—As in female. PI 32 (32). Wings as in female. Pilosity—As in female. Sculpture as in female. Petiole. As in female. Postpetiole: As in female. Gaster. As in female. Genitalia. Eighth sternites with emargination approximately 1/2 as deep as wide. Ninth sternite with 10-12 erect setae. Aedeagus with 7 teeth; toothed margin straight. Color: As in female.

Type Material

DuBois (1986) - Type series consisting of 8 females and 2 males (DuBois, 1981a): Michigan: Livingston Co., E. S. George Reserve, 30 June 1966, M, Talbot. Holotype (Museum of Comparative Zoology) bears red, handwritten label: Monomorium talbotae M. DuBois 1981 Holotype. Allotype male also in MCZ. Paratypes distributed as follows: 6 females, 1 male (MBDPC), 1 female (KU). Allotype and paratypes bear red, handwritten labels: Monomorium talbotae M. DuBois 1981 Paratype (or Allotype).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Coovert, G.A. 2005. The Ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin New Series Volume 15(2):1-196
  • Dean D. A., and S. R. Dean. 2018. A survey of the ant fauna and seasonal alate nuptial flights at two locations in South-Central Texas. Southwestern Entomologist 43(3): 639-647.
  • DuBois M. B. 1981. Two new species of inquilinous Monomorium from North America (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 52: 31-37.
  • DuBois M. B. 1986. A revision of the native New World species of the ant genus Monomorium (minimum group) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Univ. Kans. Sci. Bull. 53: 65-119
  • Wheeler G. C., J. N. Wheeler, and P. B. Kannowski. 1994. Checklist of the ants of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Great Lakes Entomologist 26(4): 297-310
  • Wheeler, G.C., J. Wheeler and P.B. Kannowski. 1994. CHECKLIST OF THE ANTS OF MICHIGAN (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE). Great Lakes Entomologist 26:1:297-310