Monomorium dine sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): a new inquiline social parasite ant species from North America

By

Cover, Stefan P., 1952-
Rabeling, Christian

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-6-25

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1243

Pages

159--172

Subjects

Brood parasitism , inquilinism , integrative taxonomy , Myrmicinae , Nearctic , Social parasitism

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1243.145744

 

Abstract

Among the very rarest of Nearctic ants are three species of inquiline social parasites belonging to the genus Monomorium, namely Monomorium inquilinum DuBois, Monomorium pergandei (Emery), and Monomorium talbotae DuBois. All three species are known only from the type collections. Here, we describe Monomorium dine Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov., from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, USA, a new species closely similar to the three known social parasites. Like them, M. dine appears to be a workerless inquiline that exploits a free-living Monomorium host. We also provide keys to the queens of the Nearctic Monomorium inquilines, provide the first images of these species, report new collections for Monomorium talbotae DuBois, discuss host-parasite associations, and summarize what is presently known about these mysterious social parasites.