Monomorium Mayr

Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 936, pp. 1-68 : 34

Genus Monomorium Mayr

California appears to have a single indigenous species of this genus, M. ergatogyna , a ground­nesting species which is widely but patchily distributed throughout the state except at high elevations. The reasons for treating M. wheelerorum as a junior synonym have been discussed above (under “Taxonomic Changes”). The introduced Pharaoh’s ant, M. pharaonis (Linnaeus) , is a frequent pest in buildings in urban California. A second introduced species, similar to M. pharaonis but with a more elongate head and more shagreened sculpture, has been collected once in the state (images and locality information on AntWeb).

Species identification: keys in Wheeler and Wheeler ( 1986g). Additional references: Adams and Traniello ( 1981), Andersen et al. ( 1991), Berndt and Eichler ( 1987), Bolton ( 1987), DuBois ( 1986, 2000), Fernández ( 2005), Heterick ( 2001), Jones et al. ( 1982 a, 1982 b), Knight and Rust ( 1990).