Monomorium tchelichofi

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Monomorium tchelichofi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. tchelichofi
Binomial name
Monomorium tchelichofi
Forel, 1914

Monomorium tchelichofi casent0908747 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium tchelichofi casent0908747 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

The only known collection beyond the type material is noted as being found in soil.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. tchelichofi complex in the M. salomonis species group. As mentioned under Monomorium fridae, tchelichofi may well be a junior synonym of this name. For the present the sparse material of the two allows them to be separated on slight differences in size, but further samples may well annul the presumed differences.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -19° to -19°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: South Africa (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • tchelichofi. Monomorium tchelichofi Forel, 1914d: 244 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Cape Colony, Willowmore (H. Brauns).
    • Type-depositories: MCZC, MHNG.
    • Status as species: Arnold, 1916: 211; Emery, 1922e: 179; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 872; Arnold, 1926: 227; Ettershank, 1966: 92; Bolton, 1987: 362 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 267.
    • Distribution: South Africa.

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

Description

Worker

Bolton (1987) - TL 3.8-4.0, HL 0.90-0.98, HW 0.74-0.82, CI 82-86, SL 0.74-0.80, SI 95-100, PW 0.46-0.52, AL 1.00-1.10 (10 measured).

Anterior margin of median portion of clypeus evenly concave in full-face view. Head relatively short and broad (CI above) with evenly shallowly convex sides. Eyes of moderate size , the maximum diameter 0.20-0.23 x HW and with 10-l1 ommatidia in the longest row. Occipital margin indented medially, shallowly concave. Alitrunk in profile with promesonotum evenly convex, highest at junction of pro- and mesonotum, the latter sloping posteriorly to the weakly impressed metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsum shallowly concave transversely, the margins, separating dorsum from sides rounded and not sharply defined. Dorsum of head with 3-4 pairs of standing hairs behind the level of the frontal lobes, all pairs straddling the midline and none close to the occipital corners. Dorsal alitrunk hairless. Petiole node with one pair, postpetiole with 2-3 pairs of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with short standing hairs sparsely but evenly distributed over the sclerite in front of the apical transverse row. Cephalic dorsum unsculptured except for superficial fine reticulate patterning. Dorsal alitrunk finely reticulate to reticulate-punctulate everywhere, the sculpture generally increasing in density and intensity from front to back. Dorsum of postpetiole with fine granulate to punctulate sculpture. First gastral tergite with fine and usually dense superficial reticulate patterning. Colour dark brown , the gaster usually darker in shade than the alitrunk.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, South Africa: Cape Prov., Willowmore (H. Brauns) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève; Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Arnold G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 159-270.
  • Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.