Monomorium

{{Short description|Genus of ants}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Eocene|Recent}} | image = Monomorium pharaonis.jpg | image_caption = ''Monomorium pharaonis'', and the tip of a pen for scale comparison | taxon = Monomorium | authority = Mayr, 1855 | type_species = ''Monomorium minutum'' | type_species_authority = Mayr, 1855 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = about 396 | synonyms = ''Antichthonidris'' ''Nothidris'' ''Phacota''  others }}

'''''Monomorium''''' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. As of 2013 it contains about 396 species.<ref>[http://www.antweb.org//description.do?name=monomorium&rank=genus&project=allantwebants ''Monomorium''.] AntWeb. v5.1.17.</ref> It is distributed around the world, with many species native to the Old World tropics.<ref name=alda>{{cite journal|pmc=3119320|year=2011 |last1=Aldawood |first1=A. S. |last2=Sharaf |first2=M. R. |title=''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 |journal=ZooKeys |issue=106 |pages=47–54 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.106.1390 |pmid=21852921 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2011ZooK..106...47A }}</ref> 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.<ref name=het03>{{cite journal|doi=10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00352.x|title=Two new Australian ''Monomorium'' Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), including a highly distinctive species |year=2003 |last1=Heterick |first1=Brian E. |journal=Australian Journal of Entomology |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=249–253 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113083758/http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Heterick/Mon2003.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-13 |url=http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Heterick/Mon2003.pdf }}</ref> It also includes several familiar pest species, such as the pharaoh ant (''M. pharaonis'') and the flower ant (''M. floricola'').<ref name=het03/>

==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.<ref name=het03/>

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.<ref name=fernandez2007>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.</ref>

==Taxonomy== By the early 20th century ''Monomorium'' was already a large genus, with 10 subgenera.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Sparks |first1=Kathryn S. |last2=Andersen |first2=Alan N. |last3=Austin |first3=Andrew D. |date=2019 |title=A multi-gene phylogeny of Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) results in reinterpretation of the genus and resurrection of Chelaner Emery |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS16080 |journal=Invertebrate Systematics |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=225–236 |language=en |doi=10.1071/IS16080 |s2cid=92210728 |issn=1445-5226|url-access=subscription }}</ref> 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''.<ref name=fernandez2007/>

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.<ref name=heterick2006>{{cite journal|last=Heterick|first=Brian|year=2006|title=A revision of the Malagasy ants belonging to Genus ''Monomorium'' Mayr, 1855 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)|journal=Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences|volume=57|issue=3|pages=69–202|url=https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/images/e/e1/Heterick_2006.pdf}}</ref>

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.''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ward |first1=Philip S. |last2=Brady |first2=Seán G. |last3=Fisher |first3=Brian L. |last4=Schultz |first4=Ted R. |date=2015 |title=The evolution of myrmicine ants: phylogeny and biogeography of a hyperdiverse ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Phylogeny and evolution of myrmicine ants |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/syen.12090 |journal=Systematic Entomology |language=en |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=61–81 |doi=10.1111/syen.12090|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 2019 the genus ''Chelaner'' was resurrected for 53 Australasian and Pacific species, including the common New Zealand species ''Chelaner antipodum''.<ref name=":0" />

==Biology== Most ants of this genus nest in rotting wood, under rocks, or in the soil.<ref name=alda/> Some species are scavengers, while others are seed collectors.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.jksus.2009.12.009|title=Source, optimal dose concentration and longevity of trail pheromone in two ''Monomorium'' ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) |year=2010 |last1=Mashaly |first1=Ashraf Mohamed Ali |last2=Ali |first2=Asmaa Saber |last3=Ali |first3=Mahmoud Fadl |journal=Journal of King Saud University - Science |volume=22 |pages=57–60 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Many species have venom containing alkaloids, which they use as a defense from predators.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1023/B:JOEC.0000008015.42254.c3|title=The Venom Alkaloids from Some African ''Monomorium'' Species |year=2003 |last1=Jones |first1=T. H. |last2=Zottig |first2=V. E. |last3=Robertson |first3=H. G. |last4=Snelling |first4=R. R. |journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology |volume=29 |issue=12 |pages=2721–2727 |pmid=14969358 |bibcode=2003JCEco..29.2721J |s2cid=29729484 }}</ref> Besides its morphological variation, the genus is also variable in chromosome number, with 2''n'' of 16 to 70 recorded.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lorite|first1=Pedro|last2=Carrillo|first2=Jose A.|last3=Tinaut|first3=Alberto|last4=Palomeque|first4=Teresa|year=2002|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120713222758/http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Lorite/Lorite_2002.pdf|archive-date=2012-07-13|url=http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Lorite/Lorite_2002.pdf|title=Chromosome numbers in Spanish Formicidae (Hymenoptera) IV. New data of species from the genera ''Camponotus'', ''Formica'', ''Lasius'', ''Messor'', and ''Monomorium''|journal=Sociobiology|volume=40|issue=2|pages=331–342}}</ref>

==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.<ref name=heterick2006/>

==Selected species== {{Main|List of Monomorium species}} {{div col|colwidth=24em}} * ''Monomorium antarcticum'' * ''Monomorium bidentatum'' * ''Monomorium chinense'' * ''Monomorium carbonarium'' – little black ant * ''Monomorium delabiei'' Fernández, 2007 * ''Monomorium dentatum'' * ''Monomorium denticulatum'' * ''Monomorium effractor'' * ''Monomorium fieldi'' * ''Monomorium floricola'' – flower ant * ''Monomorium hospitum'' * ''Monomorium inquilinum'' * ''Monomorium kondratieffi'' Sharaf & Aldawood, 2013<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sharaf | first1 = M. R. | last2 = Aldawood | first2 = A. S. | date = 2013 | title = First occurrence of the ''Monomorium hildebrandti''-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of a new species ''M. kondratieffi'' n. sp. | journal = Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington | volume = 115 | issue = 1 | pages = 75–84 | doi = 10.4289/0013-8797.115.1.75| s2cid = 85281879 }}</ref> * ''Monomorium monomorium'' Bolton, 1987 (= ''Mononorium minutum'' Mayr, 1855) * ''Monomorium noualhieri'' * ''Monomorium pergandei'' * ''Monomorium pharaonis'' – pharaoh ant * ''Monomorium rubriceps'' * ''Monomorium santschii'' * ''Monomorium smithi'' * ''Monomorium talbotae'' {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.aspen.2009.11.001|title=''Monomorium'' ant's trail pheromones: Glandular source, optimal concentration, longevity and specificity |year=2010 |last1=Mashaly |first1=Ashraf Mohamed Ali |journal=Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=23–26 |bibcode=2010JAsPE..13...23M |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113083953/http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/mashaly/Publications/Journal%20of%20Asia-Pacific%20Entomology.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-13 |url=http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/mashaly/Publications/Journal%20of%20Asia-Pacific%20Entomology.pdf }} *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.

==External links== {{Commons category|Monomorium}} *[http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/E/Taxo/F411--.html ''Monomorium''.] Japanese Ant Image Database.

Category:Monomorium Category:Ant genera Category:Taxa named by Gustav Mayr Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot