Monomorium dolatu

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Monomorium dolatu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Monomorium
Species: M. dolatu
Binomial name
Monomorium dolatu
Bolton, 1987

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Specimen Labels

A worker of this species was collected in a pitfall trap sample from Sclerocarya - Bolusanthus Open Woodland in Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. malatu complex in the M. monomorium species group. Non-paratypic material resembles the type-series very closely but the brown band across the first gastral tergite is paler and interrupted medially.

The affinities of dolatu lie with other members of the malatu-complex, despite its 11-segmented antennae. This is the only known Afrotropical species with 11 antennal segments which has the petiole and clypeus structured as described, and is hence quite distinctive.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -24.92858° to -24.92858°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Cameroun (type locality), Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast.

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.

  • dolatu. Monomorium dolatu Bolton, 1987: 384 (w.) CAMEROON, GHANA, IVORY COAST.
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 3 paratype workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype Cameroon: Nkoemvon, 1980, no. 11b (D. Jackson); paratypes with same data.
    • Type-depositories: BMNH (holotype); BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
    • Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 261.
    • Distribution: Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 1.5, HL 0.40, HW 0.34, CI 85, SL 0.26, SI 76, PW 0.22, AL 0.43.

Clypeal carinae sharply defined and only very weakly divergent anteriorly, the space between them feebly transversely concave and the carinae with the anterior clypeal margin extremely shallowly concave between their apices. Prominent median portion of clypeus strongly defined, its anterior and lateral margins meeting in sharp angles. The clypeal carinae terminate mesad of these angles and a small secondary carina or rugule arises at each angle and runs back towards the antennal socket, roughly paralleling the clypeal carina on each side. Maximum diameter of eye 0.21 x HW and with 5 ommatidia in the longest row. In full-face view the eyes in front of the midlength of the sides. Antennae with 11 segments; the scapes, when laid straight back from their insertions, failing to reach the occipital margin. Outline of dorsal promesonotum in profile evenly rounded-convex, the metanotal groove narrow but distinctly impressed. Metanotal cross-ribs short but strongly developed and conspicuous. Propodeal spiracle small. Propodeal dorsum in profile highest immediately behind the metanotal groove then sloping steeply to its rounded junction with the declivity. Peduncle of petiole very short and stout in profile, subtended by a deep anteroventral process which runs back approximately to the level of the petiolar spiracle where it is confluent with the strongly convex posteroventral margin of the node. Petiole node high and narrow, wedge-shaped in profile and narrowly rounded above. Postpetiole smaller than petiole, with a vertical anterior face, more broadly rounded dorsum and sloping posterior face. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with standing hairs, those of the alitrunk and gaster relatively short and appearing blunt or truncated apically; promesonotum with 5-6 pairs of standing hairs. Sculpture absent except for metanotal cross-ribs and some weak reticulation on the mesopleuron. Colour yellow, the head posteriorly somewhat darker than the alitrunk; first gastral tergite traversed apically by a broad brown band.

Paratypes. TL 1.4-1.5, HL 0.38-0.40, HW 0.32-0.40, CI 84-87, SL 0.26-0.27, SI 76-81, PW 0.22-0.23, AL 0.42-0.44 (3 measured). Maximum diameter of eye 0.19-0.21 x HW. Otherwise as holotype.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Cameroun: Nkoemvon, 1980, no. l Ib (D. Jackson) (The Natural History Museum). Paratypes. 3 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; Museum of Comparative Zoology).

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.
  • Kouakou L. M. M., K. Yeo, K. Ouattara, W. Dekoninck, T. Delsinne, and S. Konate. 2018. Investigating urban ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in port cities and in major towns along the border in Côte d’Ivoire: a rapid assessment to detect potential introduced invasive ant species. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 36(1): 5793-5811.
  • Kouakou L. M. M., W. Dekoninck, M. Kone, T. Delsinne, K. Yeo, K. Ouattara, and S. Konate. 2018. Diversity and distribution of introduced and potentially invasive ant species from the three main ecoregions of Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa). Belgian Journal of Zoology 148 (1): 83–103.