The Ants of Africa
Genus Monomorium
Monomorium oscaris Forel

destructor-group (Parholcomyrmex)

The subgenus Parholcomyrmex was defined by Emery (1915i: 190), type species Monomorium gracillima (as Myrmica gracillima, now junior synonym of Monomorium destructor) - see {original description}. The main characteristics Emery listed were - slightly dimorphic workers; funiculus with a three-segmented club (Monomorium santschii with four segmented-club, type location Tunisia), the first two segments equi-sized.

Monomorium oscaris Forel

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Ethiopia (Monomorium Oscaris n. spec., Forel, 1894b: 86, worker; most synonymy by Bolton, 1987: 327) Sudabessinien, Ilg
junior synonyms
despecta (Monomorium destructor Jerdon subsp. kalahariensis Forel var. despecta n. var., Forel, 1910c: 252; Menozzi, 1931a: 154, worker; Forel, 1913b: 331, queen) from Eritrea, Ghinda - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0908751
dispar (Monomorium dispar n.sp., Emery, 1895h: 24, worker) from South Africa, Makapan - see below.
kalahariense (Monomorium destructor Jerdon subsp. kalahariense n. subsp., Forel, 1910f: 18) from Botswana, Kooa-Sekgoma - see http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0908750
prossae (Monomorium amblyops r prossae, Forel, 1916: 418; replacement name for bulawayense, Forel: 1914d: 247) from Zimbabwe - see below; also a male at http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0902180
solleri (Rhoptromyrmex Solleri n. sp.,  Forel, 1910e: 430, queen) from Senegal, Bissao, Soller
worker & queen known (see Bolton, 1995) .


{Monomorium oscaris}Forel's (1894b) description is at {original description}. Emery's (1895h) description of dispar is at {original description}. Forel's (1910c) description of despecta is at {original description}. Forel's (1910c) description of solleri is at {original description}. Forel's (1910f) description of kalhariense is at {original description}. Forel's (1914d) description of prossae (as M. amblyops r bulawayense) is at {original description}. Arnold (1916: 235) gave a translation of dispar, this is at {original description}. Arnold (1916: 235) gave a translation of kalahariense, this is at {original description}. Arnold (1916: 235) gave a translation of prossae, this is at {original description} and {original description}. Bolton's modern description (1987: 326, illustrated pedicel dorsal view) is at {original description}

Note monophasic allometry: Worker TL 1.6-3.8 mm, HL 0.46-0.94, HW 0.36-0.84, SL 0.34-0.54, PW 0.24-0.52 (Bolton, 1987).


The findings listed by Bolton give no indication of arboreal habits and many are from drier locations - Bolton commented that oscaris is a widely distributed and versatile species ranging over most of the Afrotropical region outside the rainforest zone or within that zone in cleared areas; i.e. it is essentially a savannah species.

Bolton described how he found it in termitaria and nesting in the earth, but once finding a nest in an old rotting cocoa pod still attached to the tree and some distance above the ground (Bolton, 1987). Elsewhere from Nigeria, Bolton (1987) listed a finding at Mokwa (C. Longhurst).

From Ghana, Bolton (1987) examined specimens from Legon (D. Leston; G. Benson); Navrongo (P.M. Room) and Dawhwenya (C.A. Collingwood). These are all savannah locations. Separately, in a record not mentioned by Bolton, 6 workers were collected by pkd from the canopy of Amelonado cocoa at CRIG by Bigger (1981a), at a guess these are variant given below.

This leads to the puzzle of specimens collected in Nigeria, at CRIN (B. Bolton), found nesting in an old cocoa pod and also on open ground. In the CRIN collection they were labelled Syllophopsis species 1. Before now (2002), I felt they were clear members of the fossulatum-group, being the former afrotropical Syllophopsis (Bolton, 1987) and only the larger size distinguishes them from the brief description given by Bolton.


Monomorium oscaris typeThe photomontage is of the type (minor) worker collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0908712
The size, TL 1.5 mm (which is as given by Forel, 1894b) and form show it to be a minor worker.


Monomorium oscaris dispar majorThe photomontage is of a type worker of dispar collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904583.


Monomorium oscaris bulawayensis mediaThe photomontage is of a type worker of prossae (bulawayensis) collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0902208
Notes The size and general morphology suggest that this is a media worker (listed by Bolton 1987: 327).


{Monomorium oscaris ? large} Nigeria specimen (Syllophopsis species 1 in Taylor, 1980a: 45). WORKER. TL 2.74 mm, HL 0.78, HW 0.68, SL 0.50, PW 0.39; colour golden yellow. Sculpturation of very fine striations on the head; spiculation on lateral mesonotum and propodeum; fine transverse striations on dorsal and upper lateral propodeum. Erect hairs long and moderately abundant; pilosity short and sparse. In profile the propodeum has a flat dorsum rounded into a near vertical posterior face.

It seems either that one is dealing with a medium to large oscaris, or possibly, Monomorium epinotale, as described by Santschi (1923e), which has a matching propodeal profile, position of eyes at one-third point of head, anterior striation on head, etc.


{Monomorium oscaris, small}Nigeria specimen (Syllophopsis species 2 in Taylor, 1980a: 45). TL 1.68, HL 0.47, HW 0.37, SL 0.31, PW 0.26; colour golden yellow. Sculpturation of fine reticulo-striation on the lateral mesonotum; very faint transverse striations on the dorsal propodeum and similar but longitudinal striations on the posterior of the lateral propodeum. Erect hairs sparse and fairly coarse.

I found it ground nesting and foraging at CRIN (specimen in my voucher collection either missed by Bolton or not identifiable from his lists of findings).


Oxford University Museum specimens

Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Burkina Faso
David King
King 96

9.ii.2009
Ouagadougou
12.23.07° N
001.29.14° W
elev 293 m; vacant lot in residential area; nest in soil
7
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Senegal
Tambacounda
B Ndiaye

9.v.2009
Dindifa
13°09'40" N
12°06'46" W
Dindifa 09-V-09 St 7 sur un arbre
213 m; Soudanian savannah,
minor worker

1
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Senegal
Ferlo
B Ndiaye

x.2010
Katané
15.48° N
14.08° W
Katané X 2010 T6P14/P10
Sahelian savannah, pitfall traps

3
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Senegal
Tambacounda
B Ndiaye

14.v.2009
Kenieba
14°05'54" N
12°03'34" W
Sabodola 14-V-09 Kenieba St 11 P8F [A]
84 m; Soudanian savannah, pitfall traps (1 of 4 mounted)

1
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Senegal
Tambacounda
B Ndiaye

5.v.2009
Tandiankunda
13°06'30"N
12°05'18" W
Tandiankunda 05-V-09 St 2 P6F
Soudanian savannah, East Senegal, pitfall traps
minor worker
1
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Senegal
Tambacounda
B Ndiaye

14.viii.2009
Tandiankunda
13°06'30"N
12°05'18" W
Tandiankunda 14-VIII-09 avec termites
Soudanian savannah, hand collection, on soil with termites

2
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Senegal
Lamine Diamé
65
08.iv.2012
Thiés
14°45'N
17°03'W
Sigelec
(S. saiche)
tube 04 two larger workers
sp 3
2
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Benin
J-F Vayssieres
RVA 2919
1.ix.2012
Korobourou
09°22'13'' N
02°40'16'' E
Mangifera indica orchard
Quadrat  1, tube 1, variété: Kent
Ground nesting
Media worker
1
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Benin
J-F Vayssieres
RVA 3013
9.xi.2012
Korobourou
09°22'13'' N
02°40'16'' E
Mangifera indica orchard
Quadrat 1, série 1, variété Gouverneur; ground nesting
Range of workers

3
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Sudan
J Mathews
JM 093

25.x.2000
Kordofan
11°21' N
34°27' E
El Ain near El Obeid
pyrethrum fogging of Acacia senegal

1
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Sudan
J Mathews
JM 040
18.x.2000
Kordofan
11°21' N
34°27' E
El Ain near El Obeid
pyrethrum fogging of Acacia senegal
3
{album}
Monomorium oscaris
B Taylor det.
Sudan
J Mathews
JM 394

20.x.2001
Blue Nile
11°21' N
34°27' E
Abu Gmein
Canopy fogging of Acacia senegal
2
{album}

{Monomorium oscaris major} Photomontage of a major worker from Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, collector David King (King 96).


{Monomorium oscaris media 1} Photomontage of a media 1 worker from Burkina Faso (as above).


{Monomorium oscaris media 2} Photomontage of a media 2 worker from Burkina Faso (as above).


{Monomorium oscaris minima} Photomontage of a minima worker from Burkina Faso (as above).


Monomorium oscaris majorThe photomontage is of a worker from Sudan, Kordofan, El Ain, near El Obeid; collector J Mathews (JM 093)


Monomorium oscaris minorrThe photomontage is of a minor worker from Sudan, collector J Mathews


Monomorium oscarisThe photomontage of a worker (media 2?) from South Africa is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0235926

Contents
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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