Contents Contents The Ants of Egypt
SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Monomorium
Monomorium bicolor Emery

bicolor-complex

Monomorium bicolor Emery

return to key  Type location Ethiopia (Monomorium bicolor n. sp., Emery, 1877b: 368, worker; Bogos, Sciotel, Beccari; note the Mayr, 1901b: 7, queen description is probably Monomorium albopilosum
subspecies judaicum (Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) bicolor ssp., judaicum n. ssp., Menozzi, 1933b: 63, illustrated, worker) from Israel, Wadi Kelt - no images available on Antweb (March 2019)
junior synonyms
aequatoriale (Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) bicolor Emery v. aequatoriale n. var., Santschi, 1926b: 240, worker) from Cameroun, collected at Great Batanga, by G. Schwab, 1911 - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0913561
coerulescens (Monomorium bicolor Em. var. coerulescens n. var., Santschi, 1912c: 148, worker) from Djibouti - no images available on Antweb (March 2019)
rufibasis (Monomorium bicolor Em. v. rufibasis n. var., Santschi, 1914d: 353, worker, in key) from Egypt- no images available on Antweb (March 2019)
uelense (Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) bicolor Emery v. ulense n. var., Santschi, 1926b: 239, worker) from Zaïre, Haur Uele, L Burgeon - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0913563
tropicale (Monomorium (Xeromyrmex) bicolor Emery v. tropicalie n. var., Santschi, 1926b: 240, all forms) from Zaïre, Stanleyville - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0913562
(see Bolton, 1995) .


Emery's (1877b) description is at {original description}. Santschi's (1912c) description of coerulescens is at {original description} Santschi's (1914d) note and brief key is at {original description}. Santschi's (1926b) description of several varieties is at {original description} Menozzi's (1933b) illustrated description of judaicum is at {original description} Bolton's modern description (1987) is at {original description}.


{Monomrium bicolor} Nigeria specimen (Taylor, 1980a: 29) - WORKER. TL 2.89 mm, HL 0.78, HW 0.62, SL 0.67, PW 0.37
Others TL 3.2-3.9 (Bolton, 1987). Colour orange-brown, gaster black. Head, alitrunk and pedicel densely spiculate. Few erect hairs on the gaster, pedicel and the anterior of the head; short but sparse pilosity all over.

Widely distributed throughout Africa north of the Equator, principally in drier areas; in forest zones on paths where open to the sun. Nests in open ground, in Nigeria, I found it not common at CRIN, but forages on the ground and will tend aphids on cocoa flowers near ground level.


Monomorium bicolorThe photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904601


Oxford University Museum specimens

Monomorium bicolor
B Taylor det.
Egypt
M Sharaf

2.v. 2002
Aswan
24°05' N
32°53' E
Saloga Is
2
{album}
Monomorium bicolor
B Taylor det.
Egypt
M Sharaf

21.ii. 2003
Elqasmia
31°19' N
30°39' E
Belbis
1
{album}
Monomorium bicolor
B Taylor det.
Egypt
M Fadl Ali

2008
El Minia
28°05'N
30°45'E

3
{album}

{Monomorium bicolor}The photomontage is of workers collected in Egypt, Elqasmia; collector M Sharaf.


{Monomorium bicolor}The photomontage is of workers collected in Egypt, El Minia; collector M Fadl Ali.


{Monomorium bicolor}Photomontage of a queen from Senegal, Thiés; 2012; collector Lamine Diamé (79).

©2005, 2006, 2015, 2019 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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