Monomorium pharaonis ( LINNAEUS 1758)

Aktaç, N. & Kiran, K., 2006, A new household ant record for Turkish Thrace [Monomorium pharaonis (L.)] (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 38 (2), pp. 1123-1128 : 1123-1128

Monomorium pharaonis ( LINNAEUS 1758)

Formica pharaonis LINNAEUS 1758 - Syst. nat. (Ed. 10) 1: 580pp.

Worker: Head longer than broad, sides oval, occipital border slightly convex, distinctly punctuated and matt. Clypeus in median part quite rose and bicarinate, smooth, punctuated towards the sides, anterior margin indistinctly notched. Mandibles narrow, with 4- 5 teeth and striated longitudinally. Eyes small, oval, about 20-25 ommatidia. Scapus smooth, decumbent hair, hardly surpassing the occipital margin. Antennae twelvesegmented with a 3 segmented club, first funiculus segment elongated, 4 times longer than broad, second segment quadrate, the other funicular segments until club gradually increased length, 8 th funicular segment 1,5 times longer than broad ( Fig. 2a ). Promesonotum not rose, without promesonotal grove, mesonotal grove quite wide and deep, propodeum without spin. Thorax densely punctuated. Ventral surface of petiole shaft with small projection. Petiole thin, in profile node of petiole’s anterior part concave, dorsal and posterior part convex. Anterior and dorsal part of postpetiole convex, posterior part concave. Nodes densely punctuated. Gaster smooth and shiny, after half of the first gaster tergit dark brown. All body with sparse hair, except antennae without pubescence, yellowish brown and matt ( Fig. 2b ).

Queen: Head little longer than broad, sides less oval than worker, almost quadrate, occipital border edged distinctly. Entire head densely punctuated and matt like worker. Eyes big, oval about 200 ommatidia, 3 ocelli, environs of the ocelli blackish. Frontal area and frontal triangle striated longitudinally. Clypeus rose, bicarinate, sculpture like worker, anterior margin almost flat. Mandibles like worker, with 4-5 teeth, striated longitudinally, masticator border darker. Scapus dense and decumbent hair, hardly surpassing occipital margin, funicular segments like worker ( Fig. 2c ). Dorso-median line of scutum, posterior half of scutellum and entire mesonotum patched darkly. Scutum and prescutum at the same level without depression. Propodeum with a distinct groove for the shaft of the petiole’s location, without spin. Entire thorax densely punctuated. Shaft of petiole without projection. In profile node of petiole narrower than worker’s, anterior part concave, posterior part convex. Node of postpetiole rounded. Nodes densely punctuated and matt. Gaster smooth and shiny, after the first quarter of the gaster tergit dark brown. Hair like worker. All body yellowish brown and matt ( Fig. 2d ).

Both castes show no differences with nominate species.

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Figures

Fig. 2: Monomorium pharaonis (LINNAEUS 1758). Worker: (a) Head (Frontal view), (b) Thorax, petiole, postpetiole (in profile); queen: (c) Head (Frontal view), (d) Thorax, petiole, postpetiole (in profile).