Monomorium
Encyclopedia
Monomorium is one of the most species-rich genera
of ant
s, with about 300 species. The most famous is the pharaoh ant
, which can be a considerable pest, especially in hospitals. Although most are Old World
species, mostly from the Africa
n tropics, others are found around the globe.
and perhaps Bondroita should possibly also be included in Monomorium.
The exact boundaries of the genus are yet to be determined. No morphological trait exists that would distinctly separate Monomorium from other genera in the tribe Solenopsidini
. If cladistics
were strictly applied, all Solenopsidini would have to grouped under one genus (which would be Solenopsis
). But even the Solenopsidini lack a strong synapomorphy
. Monomorium as it currently stands is paraphyletic, but can be justified on practical grounds as a provisional arrangement. Similar problems are found in the genera Camponotus and Leptothorax
.
, 19 of these were described in 2006 alone; 43 species are known from Australia
, 30 from Arabia.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s, with about 300 species. The most famous is the pharaoh ant
Pharaoh ant
The pharaoh ant is a small yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant notorious for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals. The origin of this "tramp" ant is uncertain, although favoured alternatives include West Africa and Indonesia...
, which can be a considerable pest, especially in hospitals. Although most are Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
species, mostly from the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n tropics, others are found around the globe.
Description
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.Taxonomy
This large genus was further expanded in 2007, when the genera Nothidris, Epelysidris and Phacota (with its single species P. sichelii Roger, 1862) were synonymized with Monomorium. P. sichelii was possibly erroneously based on a wingless queen. The small genera Anillomyrma, MegalomyrmexMegalomyrmex
Megalomyrmex is a genus of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is close to Monomorium and should possibly be included in the latter.-Species:-References:...
and perhaps Bondroita should possibly also be included in Monomorium.
The exact boundaries of the genus are yet to be determined. No morphological trait exists that would distinctly separate Monomorium from other genera in the tribe Solenopsidini
Solenopsidini
The Solenopsidini, meaning pipe-faced, are a tribe of myrmicine ants with about 20 genera.-Genera:* Adlerzia Forel, 1902* Afroxyidris Belshaw & Bolton, 1994* Allomerus Mayr, 1878* Anillomyrma Emery, 1913* Bondroitia Forel, 1911...
. If cladistics
Cladistics
Cladistics is a method of classifying species of organisms into groups called clades, which consist of an ancestor organism and all its descendants . For example, birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor form a clade...
were strictly applied, all Solenopsidini would have to grouped under one genus (which would be Solenopsis
Fire ant
Fire ants are a variety of stinging ants with over 285 species worldwide. They have several common names, including ginger ants, tropical fire ants and red ants.- Appearance :...
). But even the Solenopsidini lack a strong synapomorphy
Synapomorphy
In cladistics, a synapomorphy or synapomorphic character is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor, whose ancestor in turn does not possess the trait. A synapomorphy is thus an apomorphy visible in multiple taxa, where the trait in question originates in...
. Monomorium as it currently stands is paraphyletic, but can be justified on practical grounds as a provisional arrangement. Similar problems are found in the genera Camponotus and Leptothorax
Leptothorax
Leptothorax is a large genus of small ants with mainly Holarctic distribution. 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 life cycles...
.
Distribution
36 species are described from MadagascarMadagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, 19 of these were described in 2006 alone; 43 species are known from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 30 from Arabia.
Selected species
- Monomorium antarcticumMonomorium antarcticumMonomorium antarcticum is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand.-References:* *...
- Monomorium bidentatumMonomorium bidentatumMonomorium bidentatum is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is endemic to two South American countries, Chile and Argentina.-Description:...
- Monomorium chinense
- Monomorium delabiei Fernández, 2007
- Monomorium dentatumMonomorium dentatumMonomorium dentatum is an ant species which has been discovered on August 20, 2003 by M. R. Sharaf in Egypt and described by Sharaf, M. R. in 2007....
- Monomorium denticulatumMonomorium denticulatumMonomorium denticulatum is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is endemic to Argentina. Like M. bidentatum it was first described from Valdivia, Chile.-Description:...
- Monomorium effractorMonomorium effractorMonomorium effractor is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to India.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 10 August 2007....
- Monomorium fieldiMonomorium fieldiMonomorium fieldi is a small species of ant, originally described from Australia by , where it is widespread in all states . According to , it is also found in New Zealand, based on the following evidence: has determined that all material from New Zealand previously identified as Monomorium...
- Monomorium hospitumMonomorium hospitumMonomorium hospitum is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to Singapore.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 10 August 2007....
- Monomorium inquilinumMonomorium inquilinumMonomorium inquilinum is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 10 August 2007....
- Monomorium inusuale Fernández, 2007
- Monomorium minimum – Little black antLittle black antThe Little Black Ant is a species of ant. Members of the species are tiny and shiny black in color. These ants are pests that are usually found outdoors or in wood inside a home that causes it to decay....
Buckley, 1866 - Monomorium monomorium Bolton, 1987
- Monomorium noualhieriMonomorium noualhieriMonomorium noualhieri is a species of ant endemic to Algeria....
- Monomorium pergandeiMonomorium pergandeiMonomorium pergandei is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 10 August 2007....
- Monomorium pharaonis – Pharaoh AntPharaoh antThe pharaoh ant is a small yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant notorious for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals. The origin of this "tramp" ant is uncertain, although favoured alternatives include West Africa and Indonesia...
- Monomorium santschiiMonomorium santschiiMonomorium santschii is a species of ant that is native to Tunisia.It is a parasitic ant that has no worker caste. The queen enters the colony of a different species and, probably by employing a pheromone, she forces the host workers to kill their queen. She then uses these workers as slaves to...
- Monomorium smithiMonomorium smithiMonomorium smithi is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand.-References:* *...
- Monomorium talbotaeMonomorium talbotaeMonomorium talbotae is a species of insect in family Formicidae. It is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Social Insects Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 9 August 2007....