Monomorium vaguum

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium vaguum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. vaguum
Binomial name
Monomorium vaguum
Santschi, 1930

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Specimen Labels

Relatively well collected for an Afrotropical Monomorium, this species has been collected in a variety of open and semi-open habitats.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. boerorum complex in the M. monomorium species group. Among the Afrotropical species with 11 antennal segments vaguum is presently characterised by its possession of a conspicuous clump of standing hairs on the anterior half of the pronotum, an area where the pilosity is obviously much denser than anywhere else on the dorsal alitrunk.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -3.88222° to -29.66667°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (type locality), Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa.

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.

  • vaguum. Monomorium (Lampromyrmex) vaguum Santschi, 1930a: 68, figs. 26-29 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated), 1 syntype queen.
    • Type-locality: Democratic Republic of Congo (“Congo belge”): Leopoldville (= Kinshasa), vi. 1918 (G. Maes).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 93; Bolton, 1987: 418 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 268; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 213.
    • Distribution: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa.

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

Bolton (1987) - I am treating all the listed samples as a single species, vaguum, based on the combination of characters noted above and those in the key. It is fairly certain that more than one sibling species is involved here, but the few short series presently available for study do not permit any objective subdivision of the mass at this time.

Description

Worker

Bolton (1987) - TL 1.3-1.4, HL 0.37-0.40, HW 0.30-0.31, CI 76-82, SL 0.24-0.26, SI 80-86, PW 0.18-0.20, AL 0.36-0.42 (10 measured).

Clypeal carinae moderately developed but distinct, widely separated and divergent anteriorly. Median portion of clypeus shallowly prominent and unarmed, its anterior margin more or less transverse between the apices of the clypeal carinae. Maximum diameter of eye 0.20-0.23 x HW. In profile the eye conspicuously longer than high and consisting of an outer ring of ommatidia enclosing a single longitudinal row of 2-3 ommatidia. Sometimes one or two other ommatidia may also be enclosed in the ring, but this is rare. In full-face view the eyes distinctly in front of the midlength of the sides. Antennae 11-segmented. Scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, failing to reach the occipital margins. Promesonotum in profile more or less flat posteriorly, sloping to the narrow but impressed metanotal groove. Propodeum in profile with dorsum and declivity forming a single smooth broad curve. Petiole node low and subconical, narrowly rounded above. Subpetiolar process a narrow inconspicuous strip below the short anterior peduncle. Postpetiole smaller than petiole in profile, lower and much more broadly rounded. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with standing hairs, the promesonotum characteristically with a distinct clump of 5-6 (rarely 4) pairs of standing hairs on the anterior half of the pronotum and more sparsely distributed pairs of hairs behind this. Sculpture absent except for metanotal cross-ribs and sometimes with faint shagreening on the mesopleuron. Colour ranging from dull yellow to medium brown.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, female, Zaire: Leopoldville, vi.1918 (G. Maes) (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.
  • Braet Y., and B. Taylor. 2008. Mission entomologique au Parc National de Pongara (Gabon). Bilan des Formicidae (Hymenoptera) recoltes. Bulletin S. R. B. E./K.B.V.E. 144: 157-169.
  • 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
  • IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
  • Stephens S. S., P. B. Bosu, and M. R. Wager. 2016. Effect of overstory tree species diversity and composition on ground foraging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in timber plantations in Ghana. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & management 12(1-2): 96-107.