Monomorium compressum

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

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Specimen Labels

This species nests under stones (Wheeler, 1914b) but nest architecture is unknown. Colonies of M. compressum may have multiple, functioning queens (Wheeler, 1914b).

Identification

DuBois (1986) - A member of the Monomorium minimum species group. Queen Wingless; scutum and scutellum depressed dorsally; metanotum (in lateral view) projecting to level of propodeum and scutellum; propodeum angular. Worker Propodeum angular; mesopleuron not punctate; PI 36-39 (38).

Queens of M. compressum can be distinguished from queens of the other species that occurs in its range (Monomorium cyaneum), since the former have a depressed scutum and scutellum, an emarginate postpetiole, and fewer than 30 erect to suberect setae projecting above dorsal outline of alitrunk. Workers of M. compressum are separated from those of M. cyaneum since the former have a smooth mesopleuron and more than 10 erect to suberect setae projecting above dorsal outline of alitrunk.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

DuBois (1986) - This species is known from scattered localities across the Mexican Plateau and extending west to the Pacific coast (Morelos and Hidalgo to Sinaloa).

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 26.298635° to 18.637628°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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.

  • compressum. Monomorium minimum subsp. compressum Wheeler, W.M. 1914b: 43 (w.q.) MEXICO (Hidalgo).
    • Type-material: lectotype queen (by designation of DuBois, 1986: 95).
    • [Note: DuBois, 1986: 95, counted 12 workers, 3 queens in USNM, which are assumed to have paralectotype status; original description merely says“several” workers and 4 queens.]
    • Type-locality: Mexico: Hidalgo, San Miguel, 1913 (W.M. Mann).
    • Type-depository: USNM.
    • As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1922e: 173.
    • Subspecies of minimum: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 501; Ettershank, 1966: 88; Kempf, 1972a: 144.
    • Status as species: DuBois, 1986: 93 (redescription); Brandão, 1991: 357; Bolton, 1995b: 260.
    • Distribution: Mexico.

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

Description

Worker

Head. (representing different localities; N= 9) HL 0.46-0.55 (0.49), HW 0.37-0.44 (039), SL 0.27-0.40 (0.33), EL 0.08 (0.08), MOD 0.05-0.06 (0.06). Structure—CI 76—87 (80), SIL 54—78 (68), SIW 71-92 (85). Scape reaching but never surpassing occiput. Alitrunk. PW 0.22-0.28 (0.25), PL 0.17-0.24 (0.20), WL 0.44-0.62 (0.54). Structure—PI 36-39 (38). Pilosity—Dorsal outline of alitrunk with 8-14 erect to suberect setae. Petiole. Dorsum of node convex. Setae erect on dorsum of node, remainder bare. Lower 1/3 of side with small, non-piliferous punctures (leading to a granular appearance); remainder smooth and shining (dorsum of node with piliferous punctures). Postpetiole. Posterior 1/3 of postpetiole with dense, non-piliferous punctures; remaining surfaces smooth and shining (dorsum of node with piliferous punctures). Gaster. as in Monomorium minimum Color. Head brown except as follows: base of mandible and antenna yellow brown.

Queen

DuBois (1986) - As described for Monomorium cyaneum except as follows. Head: (representing type locality — probably from same nest; N=3) HL 0.60-0.68 (0.64), HW 0.55-0.60 (0.58), SL 0.45-0.50 (0.48), IOD 0.12—0.14 (0.13), OD 0.02-0.04 (003), EL 0.11—0.14 (0.12), MOD 0.10 (0.10). Structure—CI 80—96 (90), SIL 73-75 (74), SIW 77-91 (83).

Eye small. Pilosity—Setae erect near clypeus, frontal carinae, mandibles and ocelli, decumbent to appressed on malar area, appressed on remainder of head (including gular region). Sculpture—Small parallel rugosities extending from distal portion of clypeus (between clypeal teeth) to level of antenna] insertions between frontal carinae. Alitrunk: Measurements PW 0.38-0.40 (039), PL 0.25-0.28 (0.26), WL 0.88-0.90 (0.89). Structure—Scutum and scutellum depressed. Mesopleural suture deflected ventrally at posterior end (with a small pit on anterior end). Propodeum angular, basal and declivitous faces of approximately equal length. PI 27-32 (29). Pilosity—Dorsal outline of alitrunk with 8-16 erect to suberect setae (projecting over 3/4 their lengths above outline). Petiole: Dorsum of node convex to flat. Anterior surface and side of node with small non-piliferous punctures; dorsum smooth with few piliferous punctures; posterior surface with moderate, transverse, concentric, semicircular rugae. Postpetiole: Dorsum of node convex to slightly emarginate. Dorsum of node smooth (with few piliferous punctures), remaining surfaces with dense nonpiliferous punctures. Gaster. As in Monomorium minimum. COLOR: Head and antenna brown except as follows: base of mandible and lateral margin of clypeus yellow to yellow brown.

Type Material

DuBois (1986) - Syntypic series consisting of “4 females and several workers” (Wheeler, 1914b): MEXICO: Hidalgo: San Miguel [spring or summer, 1913], W. M. Mann (3 queens, 12 workers; National Museum of Natural History). Lectotype queen here designated from NMNH series bears red, handwritten label: Monomorium minimum compressum Wheeler Lectotype Queen M. DuBois 1983. The lectotype is mounted on same point with 2 workers which could not be removed.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
  • 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
  • DuBois, M.B. 1986, A revision of the native New World species of the ant genus Monomorium (minimum group) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The University of Kansas Science Bulletin 53(2):65-119
  • Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133