The Ants of Africa
Genus Monomorium
Monomorium nyasae Arnold - revived status

setuliferum-group - setuliferum-complex

Monomorium nyasae Arnold - revived status

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Malawi (Monomorium (subgen. Xeromyrmex) nyasae n. sp., Arnold, 1946: 63, illustrated, worker) - no images on Antweb (February 2015)

Worker only described .


{Monomorium ebangaense}Arnold's (1946) description of nyasae is at {original description}.

WORKER - TL 2.5 mm; head about 14% longer than wide; posterior angles widely rounded; eyes semi-elliptical; mandibles longitudinally striate; median area of clypeus striate, apical margin straight; scape falling short of occiput by as much a length of first funiculus segment. Only erect hairs mentioned are a pair on the petiole node; pubescence very sparse short and yellowish. Sculpturation of whole except gaster dull reticulate-punctate; base of gaster dull, rest shiny. Cinnamon yellow, propodeum slightly darker, gaster paler or honey yellow (Arnold: 1946, illustrated NOT as given by Bolton, 1987: 367, not illustrated).

Bolton (1987: 367) has nyasae as a junior synonym of ebangaense noting - "In the original description of ebangaense Santschi very erroneously related it to bicolor, and presented some startlingly inaccurate and misleading drawings of the holotype."

It seems to me, having read Santschi's quite explicit description - {original description}. that he actually described and drew a Monomorium bicolor variant and that is very different to nyasae. Thus, I have restored nyasae to full species status. See Monomorium ebangaense for a fuller examination.

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© 2007, 2012, 2015 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
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