''Monomorium'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily
Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and ...
. As of 2013 it contains about 396 species. It is distributed around the world, with many species native to the
Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
tropics. 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. It also includes several familiar
pest
Pest or The Pest may refer to:
Science and medicine
* Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns
** Weed, a plant considered undesirable
* Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection
** ...
species, such as the
pharaoh ant
The pharaoh ant (''Monomorium pharaonis'') is a small (2 mm) yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant notorious for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals. A cryptogenic species, it has now been introduced to vi ...
(''M. pharaonis'') and the flower ant (''M. floricola'').
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.
While the worker caste is monomorphic in some species, 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.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.
Taxonomy
This large genus 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''.
The exact boundaries of the genus are yet to be determined. It has no distinct morphological trait that sets 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. ''Monomorium'' as it currently stands is
paraphyletic
In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...
, but it is used as a provisional group. Similar problems are found in the genera '' Camponotus'' and ''
Leptothorax
''Leptothorax'' is a genus of small ants with mainly Holarctic distributions. The genus is notable for its widespread social parasitism, i.e. they are dependent on the help of workers from other ant species during a part or the whole of their lif ...
''.
Biology
Most ants of this genus nest in rotting wood, under rocks, or in the soil. Some species are
scavenger
Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a herbivorous feeding b ...
s, while others are seed collectors. Many species have venom containing alkaloids, which they use as a defense from predators. Besides its morphological variation, the genus is also variable in chromosome number, with 2''n'' of 16 to 70 recorded.
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
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
Monomorium antarcticum
''Monomorium antarcticum'' is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and ...
''
* ''
Monomorium bidentatum
''Monomorium bidentatum'' is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is endemic to two South American countries, Chile and Argentina.
Description
Workers are around long. The general color is dark brown, with the mandibles, antennae a ...
Monomorium dentatum
''Monomorium dentatum'' is an ant species which has been discovered on August 20, 2003, by M. R. Sharaf in Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of ...
''
* ''
Monomorium denticulatum
''Monomorium denticulatum'' is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It known from Chile and Argentina. Like '' M. bidentatum'' it was first described from Valdivia, Chile.
Description
Workers are 3 mm long, yellowish red, with bro ...
''
* ''
Monomorium effractor
''Monomorium effractor'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Monomorium''. It is native to India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most po ...
''
* ''
Monomorium fieldi
''Monomorium fieldi'' is an ant of the family (biology), family Formicidae, endemic (ecology), endemic to the North Island and the north of the South Island of New Zealand. It is found in a wide variety of habitats, but is very uncommon in fores ...
Monomorium hospitum
''Monomorium hospitum'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Monomorium''. It is native to Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies ab ...
Monomorium kondratieffi
''Monomorium'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. As of 2013 it contains about 396 species. It is distributed around the world, with many species native to the Old World tropics. It is considered to be "one of the more important gro ...
Monomorium noualhieri
''Monomorium noualhieri'' is a species of ant endemic to Algeria
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* ''
Monomorium pergandei
''Monomorium pergandei'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Monomorium''. It is native to the United States. The species is named after the American myrmecologist Theodore Pergande
Theodore Pergande (28 December 1840 – 23 March 1916) was a ...
''
* ''
Monomorium pharaonis
The pharaoh ant (''Monomorium pharaonis'') is a small (2 mm) yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant notorious for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals. A cryptogenic species, it has now been introduced to vi ...
'' – pharaoh ant
* ''
Monomorium rubriceps
''Monomorium'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. As of 2013 it contains about 396 species. It is distributed around the world, with many species native to the Old World tropics. It is considered to be "one of the more important gro ...
''
* ''
Monomorium santschii
''Monomorium santschii'' is a species of ant that is native to Tunisia. The most famous species in the genus ''Monomorium'' is the highly invasive pharaoh ant, ''Monomorium pharaonis
The pharaoh ant (''Monomorium pharaonis'') is a small (2&nb ...
''
* ''
Monomorium smithi
''Monomorium smithi'' is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the ...
''
* ''
Monomorium talbotae
''Monomorium talbotae'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Monomorium''. It is native to the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primari ...
*
*Mayr, G. (1855). Formicina austriaca. Beschreibung der bisher im oesterreichischen Kaiserstaate aufgefundenen Ameisen nebst Hinzufuegung jener in Deutschland, in der Schweiz und in Italien vorkommenden Ameisen. ''Verhandlungen des Zoologisch-Botanischen Vereins in Wien'' 5, 273-478.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1045834
Ant generaTaxa named by Gustav MayrTaxonomy articles created by Polbot