Monomorium abyssinicum (Forel)

Type location Ethiopia (Holcomyrmex abyssinicus, n. spec., Forel, 1894b: 83, worker; Viehmeyer, 1923: 91, queen); worker & queen only described (see Bolton, 1995) .

Forel's (1894b) description is at . Viehmeyer's (1923) description of the queen as Monomorium (Parholcomyrmex) abyssinicum, from Sudan, Dilling, is at . Bolton's modern description (1987) is at

WORKER - TL 2.6-6.7 mm, HL 0.68-2.04; polymorphic, although exhibiting monophasic allometry; granivorous with heavy mandibles; colour of larger workers reddish brown to darker on head and alitrunk, gaster darker again, smaller workers much lighter, still with gaster lighter (Bolton, 1987: 321, illustrated, full-face view of both major and minor workers, profile of major).

Found right across Sahel zone, nests in ground and is granivorous. In West Africa recorded from Burkina Faso, at Ouagadougou (P.M. Room); Ghana, at Amfeda (C. A. Collingwood); and Nigeria, at Mokwa (C.A. Longhurst). Wheeler (1922) had a record from Benin (by Desanti).

The photomontage is of the holotype worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0249905

This fits with the Forel (1894b) maximum size of TL 4 mm and clearly is a medium size worker.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Monomorium abyssinicum B Taylor det.	Senegal Kanel B Ndiaye	Andiyari 13°06'30" N 12°05'18" W	elev 264 m Andiyari 15-V-09 St 14 Termitière épigée Soudanian savannah, hand collection termite nest major & minor workers, male & queen	5
Monomorium abyssinicum B Taylor det.	Senegal Tambacounda B Ndiaye	Bambaraya 13°06'30" N 12°05'18" W	Bambaraya 07-V-09 St 4 P 19 B 264 m; Soudanian savannah, pitfall traps major & media workers	7
Monomorium abyssinicum B Taylor det.	Senegal Tambacounda B Ndiaye	Maka Madina 13°03'42" N 12°07'03" W	Maka Madina 6-V-09 St 3 P16F 186 m; Soudanian savannah, itfall traps	10
Monomorium abyssinicum B Taylor det.	Senegal Tambacounda B Ndiaye	Niakafiri 13°09'40" N 12°06'46" W	Niakafiri 9-V-09 St 6 P1F [B] 213 m; Soudanian savannah, pitfall traps	2
Monomorium abyssinicum B Taylor det.	Senegal Tambacounda B Ndiaye	Tandiankunda 13°06'30"N 12°05'18" W	Tandiankunda 05-V-09 St 2 P18F Soudanian savannah, pitfall traps	1

The photomontage is of a major worker from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

The photomontage is of a media worker from Senegal, Bambaraya; collected by B Ndiaye. 

The photomontage is of a minor worker from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

The photomontage is of a queen from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye. 

The photomontage is of a male from Senegal, Andiyari; collected by B Ndiaye.