Monomorium pharaonis.jpg

''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 groups of ants," considering its widespread distribution, its diversity, and its variety of morphological and biological characteristics. It also includes several familiar pest species, such as the pharaoh ant (''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, but it is used as a provisional group. Similar problems are found in the genera '' Camponotus'' and '' Leptothorax''.

Biology

Most ants of this genus nest in rotting wood, under rocks, or in the soil. Some species are scavengers, 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 and 30 from Arabia.

Selected species

* ''Monomorium antarcticum''
* ''Monomorium bidentatum''
* ''Monomorium chinense''
* '' Monomorium delabiei'' Fernández, 2007
* '' Monomorium dentatum''
* ''Monomorium denticulatum''
* '' Monomorium effractor''
* '' Monomorium fieldi''
* ''Monomorium floricola'' – flower ant
* '' Monomorium hospitum''
* '' Monomorium inquilinum''
* '' Monomorium inusuale'' Fernández, 2007
* '' Monomorium kondratieffi'' Sharaf & Aldawood, 2013
* ''Monomorium minimum'' Bolton, 1987
* '' Monomorium noualhieri''
* '' Monomorium pergandei''
* ''Monomorium pharaonis'' – pharaoh ant
* '' Monomorium rubriceps''
* ''Monomorium santschii''
* ''Monomorium smithi''
* '' Monomorium talbotae''

References

External links

''Monomorium''.
Japanese Ant Image Database.

Further reading

*
*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 genera
Taxa named by Gustav Mayr
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot