Monomorium antipodum Forel 1901
In this section
-
Ants of New Zealand
- Amblyopone australis
- Austroponera castanea
- Austroponera castaneicolor
- Cardiocondyla minutior
- Chelaner antarcticus
- Chelaner smithii
- Discothyrea antarctica
- Doleromyrma darwiniana
- Fulakora saundersi
- Heteroponera brouni
- Huberia brounii
- Huberia striata
- Hypoponera eduardi
- Hypoponera punctatissima
- Iridomyrmex undescribed
- Linepithema humile
- Mayriella abstinens
- Monomorium antipodum
- Monomorium floricola
- Monomorium pharaonis
- Monomorium sydneyense
- Nylanderia spp
- Ochetellus glaber
- Orectognathus antennatus
- Pheidole megacephala
- Pheidole proxima
- Pheidole rugosula
- Pheidole vigilans
- Ponera leae
- Prolasius advena
- Rhytidoponera chalybaea
- Rhytidoponera metallica
- Strumigenys perplexa
- Strumigenys xenos
- Technomyrmex jocosus
- Tetramorium bicarinatum
- Tetramorium grassii
- References
Classification
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Formicinae |
Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
Genus: | Monomorium |
Species: | antipodum |
Common name(s)
tiny brown ant (Ferro et al. 1977)
Synonyms (Hymenoptera Name Server 2005)
Monomorium donisthorpei Crawley, Monomorium fraterculum Santschi, Monomorium (Mitara) donisthorpei Crawley, Monomorium (Mitara) laeve st. fraterculus Santschi
All New Zealand specimens previoulsy identified under the names Moromorium antipodum Forel 1901 and M. orientale Mayr 1879 have now been identified as M antipodum Forel 1901 (Gunawardana 2005).
General Description
Identification
In the genus Monomorium, antennae of the workers are 10 to 12-segmented (most often 12), usually with a conspicuous, 3-segmented club. Mandibles with 3-5 teeth. The front margin of the clypeus has a single central elongate hair. Metanotal groove present, either deeply or feebly impressed. Petiole and, generally, the postpetiole have distinct rounded nodes.
Diagnostic features of the worker
Length about 1.6 mm; antennae 11-segmented with a 3-segmented club; mandibles 4-toothed; metanotal groove deeply impressed; colour of body reddish-brown, antennae yellow, tibiae and femora brown.
Biology
Poorly known. This species is small and non-aggressive. Similar sized species in Australia are generalist scavengers. It has been observed feeding on dead insects and dried Argentine ant baits long after other ants have stopped foraging, supporting its likely scavenger status. It is often sampled in coastal vegetation or in forest margins, but there are very few collection records from forest, unlike many of our other native ants. Also, unlike other native ants, this species frequently enters buildings. This may indicate that the species is a disturbance specialist.
It is attracted to protein and sugar baits, and caught in pitfall traps.
Pest Status
It is commonly encountered in buildings in some parts of the country and will turn up in bathrooms and kitchens. Trails can be seen to dead insects on window sills and occasionally it will infest sugar bowls and other food. It is a species about which householders commonly ask for advice on control.