Monomorium atomum Forel

Type location India (M. atomus, Forel, 1902c: 210, worker; Bingham, 1903: 208, queen); subspecies aharonii (Monomorium (Mariae) atomus r mictilis var aharonii, Forel, 1913d: 438, worker; Monomorium atomus var aharonii, Menozzi, 1933b: 64, in key, worker) from Israel, cooperi (Donisthorpe, 1942a: 29, all forms) from Egypt, integrium (Forel, 1902c: 210, worker & queen) from India, and procax (Forel, 1911a: 23, worker & queen) from Singapore.

Forel's (1902c) description is at . Bingham's (1903) description, with the queen and integrius, is at . Donisthorpe's (1942a) description of cooperi is at .Forel (1911) noted procax as TL 1.3-14 mm; colour rather more brown than type, petiole node somewhat higher; erect pilosity more abundant; from Singapore, collector Haviland. Forel (1913d) noted aharonii as TL 1.3 mm; eyes with about 7 facets; clypeal carinae more feeble than type mictilis, hardly perectible and very obtuse, rest identical; in Menozzi's (1933b) key for species from Palestine, the separation is - 11-segmented antennae (also clavicorne) but head with sides rounded, wholly yellow, eyes small, ca 7 facets [clavicorne with sides of head straight, eyes with more facets, gaster with apex dull yellow].

Egypt records - in HNS as Monomorium (Lampromyrmex) atomus subsp. cooperi Donisthorpe - Donisthorpe (1942a) all forms; one male, one alate queen & 12 workers from Siwa, collected by J Omer-Cooper. Donisthorpe (1947e) recorded "ssp cospeis Donisthorpe" presumably a bizarre printing error for cooperi, as from Siwa, 1 worker, 3-5.v.1935.

The photomontage is of a specimen from Egypt, Mansurah, 31°10'N 31°35'E; collected by Mostafa Sharaf, 7.viii.2007. Other images can be seen in the folder at -

The photomontage of what seems to be a good match for the limited descriptions, perhaps of cooperi, is of a specimen from Egypt, Masa Mantrouh, collected by Mostafa Sharaf, 2007.