Monomorium Explained

Monomorium is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. As of 2013 it contains about 396 species.[1] It is distributed around the world, with many species native to the Old World tropics.[2] It is considered to be "one of the more important groups of ants," considering its widespread distribution, its diversity, and its variety of morphological and biological characteristics.[3] It also includes several familiar pest species, such as the pharaoh ant (M. pharaonis) and the flower ant (M. floricola).[3]

Description

This genus is very diverse in morphology, with species of many shapes and sizes that "do not necessarily even remotely resemble one another" at first glance.[3]

In certain species, the worker caste is monomorphic, whereas in others, it is polymorphic. In some species the workers are minute, in others they are rather large. Large, multifaceted eyes are common, but M. inusuale has much reduced eyes, as do some species from Africa. The sting is always functional.[4]

Taxonomy

By the early 20th century Monomorium was already a large genus, with 10 subgenera.[5] It was further expanded in 2007, when the genera Nothidris, Epelysidris, and Phacota were synonymized with Monomorium. The small genera Anillomyrma, Megalomyrmex, and perhaps Bondroita should possibly also be included in Monomorium.[4]

The exact boundaries of the genus are still to be determined: it has no distinct morphological traits that set it apart from other genera in the tribe Solenopsidini. If cladistics were strictly applied, all Solenopsidini would be grouped in the single genus Solenopsis, but the tribe lacks a strong synapomorphy. As with the genera Camponotus and Leptothorax, Monomorium as it currently stands is paraphyletic.[6]

Subsequent studies using molecular techniques have suggested ways to break up the genus. A 2015 study resurrected the previously synonymised genus Syllophopsis (including Ireneidris) from within Monomorium. Epelysidris was also resurrected to contain the species E. brocha.[7] In 2019 the genus Chelaner was resurrected for 53 Australasian and Pacific species, including the common New Zealand species Chelaner antipodum.

Biology

Most ants of this genus nest in rotting wood, under rocks, or in the soil.[2] Some species are scavengers, while others are seed collectors.[8] Many species have venom containing alkaloids, which they use as a defense from predators.[9] Besides its morphological variation, the genus is also variable in chromosome number, with 2n of 16 to 70 recorded.[10]

Distribution

As of 2006, 36 species are described from Madagascar, 19 of which were described in that year alone. About 43 species are known from Australia and 30 from Arabia.[6]

Selected species

See main article: List of Monomorium species.

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.antweb.org//description.do?name=monomorium&rank=genus&project=allantwebants Monomorium.
  2. 3119320. 2011 . Aldawood . A. S. . Sharaf . M. R. . Monomorium dryhimi sp. n., a new ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the M. monomorium group from Saudi Arabia, with a key to the Arabian Monomorium monomorium-group . ZooKeys . 106 . 47–54 . 10.3897/zookeys.106.1390 . 21852921 . free . 2011ZooK..106...47A .
  3. 10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00352.x. Two new Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), including a highly distinctive species . 2003 . Heterick . Brian E. . Australian Journal of Entomology . 42 . 3 . 249–253 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113083758/http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Heterick/Mon2003.pdf . 2013-11-13 .
  4. Fernández, F. (2007). Two new South American species of Monomorium Mayr with taxonomic notes on the genus. In: Snelling, R. R., et al. (eds). Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): homage to E. O. Wilson – 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80, 128-45.
  5. Sparks . Kathryn S. . Andersen . Alan N. . Austin . Andrew D. . 2019 . A multi-gene phylogeny of Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) results in reinterpretation of the genus and resurrection of Chelaner Emery . Invertebrate Systematics . 33 . 1 . 225–236 . en . 10.1071/IS16080 . 92210728 . 1445-5226.
  6. Heterick. Brian. 2006. A revision of the Malagasy ants belonging to Genus Monomorium Mayr, 1855 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 57. 3. 69–202.
  7. Ward . Philip S. . Brady . Seán G. . Fisher . Brian L. . Schultz . Ted R. . 2015 . The evolution of myrmicine ants: phylogeny and biogeography of a hyperdiverse ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Phylogeny and evolution of myrmicine ants . Systematic Entomology . en . 40 . 1 . 61–81 . 10.1111/syen.12090.
  8. 10.1016/j.jksus.2009.12.009. Source, optimal dose concentration and longevity of trail pheromone in two Monomorium ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) . 2010 . Mashaly . Ashraf Mohamed Ali . Ali . Asmaa Saber . Ali . Mahmoud Fadl . Journal of King Saud University - Science . 22 . 57–60 . free .
  9. 10.1023/B:JOEC.0000008015.42254.c3. The Venom Alkaloids from Some African Monomorium Species . 2003 . Jones . T. H. . Zottig . V. E. . Robertson . H. G. . Snelling . R. R. . Journal of Chemical Ecology . 29 . 12 . 2721–2727 . 14969358 . 2003JCEco..29.2721J . 29729484 .
  10. Lorite. Pedro. Carrillo. Jose A.. Tinaut. Alberto. Palomeque. Teresa. 2002. https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120713222758/http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Lorite/Lorite_2002.pdf. 2012-07-13. Chromosome numbers in Spanish Formicidae (Hymenoptera) IV. New data of species from the genera Camponotus, Formica, Lasius, Messor, and Monomorium. Sociobiology. 40. 2. 331–342.
  11. Sharaf . M. R. . Aldawood . A. S. . 2013 . First occurrence of the Monomorium hildebrandti-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of a new species M. kondratieffi n. sp. . Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington . 115 . 1 . 75–84 . 10.4289/0013-8797.115.1.75. 85281879 .

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