Monomorium zulu

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium zulu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. zulu
Binomial name
Monomorium zulu
Santschi, 1914

Monomorium zulu casent0913866 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium zulu casent0913866 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

This species has been collected in open woodland habitats.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. mediocre complex in the M. salomonis species group. Despite differences between zulu and Monomorium rabirium (see description below and identification and description sections for rabirium), I suspect that future collections of these forms made between their respective type-localities in Botswana and South Africa may well show a gradation of one form into the other.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 20.183333° to -24.9725°.

   
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.

  • zulu. Monomorium zulu Santschi, 1914e: 18 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “many”).
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Zululand, Junction of Umfolozis, 10.vii.1905 (I. Trägårdh).
    • Type-depository: NHMB (perhaps also I NHRS).
    • Status as species: Arnold, 1916: 215; Emery, 1922e: 173; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 867; Ettershank, 1966: 93; Collingwood, 1985: 273; Bolton, 1987: 365 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 268; Borowiec, L. 2014: 127.
    • 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 1.7-1.8, HL 0.44-0.46, HW 0.34, CI 74-77, SL 0.29-0.30, SI 85-88, PW 0.20-0.22, AL 0.44-0.46 (2 measured).

Very closely related to Monomorium rabirium (mediocre-complex) and sharing its diagnostic characters, as given under the description of rabirium. The two differ in the following features.

rabirium Maximum diameter of eye 0·26-0·28 x HW, with 7 -8 ommatidia in the longest row. SI 92-97. Cephalic dorsum with traces of superficial reticular patterning close to occipital margin. Pronotal dorsum reticulate to shagreenate.

zulu Maximum diameter of eye 0·24-0·26 x HW, with 5-6 ommatidia in the longest row. SI 85-88. Cephalic dorsum smooth with scattered small pits close to occipital margin. Pronotal dorsum smooth.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Syntype workers, South Africa: Natal, Zululand, Junction of Umfolozis , 10.vii.1905 (I. Tragardh) (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) [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.
  • Collingwood, C. A. "Hymenoptera: Fam. Formicidae of Saudi Arabia." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7 (1985): 230-302.
  • Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
  • Parr C. L., H. G. Robertson, H. C. Biggs, and S. L. Chown. 2004. Response of African savanna ants to long-term fire regimes. Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 630-642.
  • Santschi F. 1914. Meddelanden från Göteborgs Musei Zoologiska Afdelning. 3. Fourmis du Natal et du Zoulouland récoltées par le Dr. I. Trägårdh. Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handlingar. 15: 1-44.