| Monomorium | |
|---|---|
| Monomorium pharaonis, and the tip of a pen for scale comparison | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium Mayr, 1855 |
| Type species | |
| Monomorium monomorium Bolton, 1987 |
|
| Species | |
|
see text. |
|
| Diversity | |
| c. 360 species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Antichthonidris |
|
Monomorium is one of the most species-rich genera of ants, 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 African tropics, others are found around the globe.
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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.[1]
This large genus was further expanded in 2007[1], 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, Megalomyrmex 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.[2]
36 species are described from Madagascar, 19 of these were described in 2006 alone; 43 species are known from Australia, 30 from Arabia.[2]