Monomorium fieldi
Encyclopedia
Monomorium fieldi is a small species of ant
, originally described from Australia
by (1910), where it is widespread in all states . According to (2005), it is also found in New Zealand
, based on the following evidence: has determined that all material from New Zealand
previously identified as Monomorium orientale is in fact M. antipodum
Note that (2005: 15) concludes by stating' Monomorium antipodum Forel was first described in 1901 from Auckland (Hymenoptera Name server 2001), and with confirmation of the identity of M. fieldi, it is possible that M. fieldi may be the junior synonym of M. antipodum (S. Shattuck, November 2004, personal communication). Clearly, the taxonomy of the New Zealand Monomorium needs to be revisited to clarify the validity of the species name antipodum. Hence, 's argument is that since all (checked) material from New Zealand
, previously identified as M. orientale or M. antipodum, has been consistently redetermined now to be M. fieldi, it is possible that M. fieldi is a junior synonym of M. antipodum, but this must await confirmation by examination of more material, including the type material of M. antipodum (if it still exists), in the context of a taxonomic revision of the Monomorium of New Zealand
, which has not yet been undertaken. However, (2007: 112-113) doubts that the New Zealand
material is conspecific with the Australian species (M. fieldi), based on the results of alkaloidal analyses. If (2007) is correct, then the species currently being called M. fieldi in New Zealand
may in fact be an endemic species, presumably M. antipodum, which is the name used by (2007), because he argues that it either is synonymous with M. fieldi or not, and in either case the valid name would be M. antipodum (if synonymous, then M. antipodum would also be the valid name for what is currently being called M. fieldi in Australia). The fallacy in 's argument is that at present, it can only be speculated that the name M. antipodum applies to the material from New Zealand
that has been examined above, but this has not been rigorously established, it being possible that there is more than one species present in New Zealand
, with the true M. antipodum not being represented among the recently examined material. Therefore the identity and nomenclature of M. antipodum and M. fieldi is at present still very unclear. It should be noted that brachyptery has not been reported for M. fieldi queens from Australia , but has been reported from New Zealand
, and indeed it is not entirely clear if fully winged queens occur in New Zealand
(see fig. 2 for a photo of a brachypterous queen from New Zealand
). At present, the safest option is to call the New Zealand
material Monomorium cf. fieldi, and consider M. antipodum to be a species inquirenda. in et al. (2010: 455) listed M. fieldi from New Zealand as a species inquirenda, and made no mention of M. antipodum. However, it is the species corresponding to the name M. antipodum which is uncertain, not the species corresponding to M. fieldi. It is at present unclear if material from New Zealand is correctly identified as M. fieldi, but this does not make M. fieldi into a species inquirenda.
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
, originally described from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
by (1910), where it is widespread in all states . According to (2005), it is also found in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, based on the following evidence: has determined that all material from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
previously identified as Monomorium orientale is in fact M. antipodum
- recent material from Onehunga (New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
), tentatively determined as M. orientale by , was tentatively reidentified as M. fieldi by - further recent material from New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, collected by , was determined as M. fieldi by both and similarly determined all New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
material sent to him, including material previously identified as M. antipodum, as M. fieldi
Note that (2005: 15) concludes by stating
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, previously identified as M. orientale or M. antipodum, has been consistently redetermined now to be M. fieldi, it is possible that M. fieldi is a junior synonym of M. antipodum, but this must await confirmation by examination of more material, including the type material of M. antipodum (if it still exists), in the context of a taxonomic revision of the Monomorium of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, which has not yet been undertaken. However, (2007: 112-113) doubts that the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
material is conspecific with the Australian species (M. fieldi), based on the results of alkaloidal analyses. If (2007) is correct, then the species currently being called M. fieldi in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
may in fact be an endemic species, presumably M. antipodum, which is the name used by (2007), because he argues that it either is synonymous with M. fieldi or not, and in either case the valid name would be M. antipodum (if synonymous, then M. antipodum would also be the valid name for what is currently being called M. fieldi in Australia). The fallacy in 's argument is that at present, it can only be speculated that the name M. antipodum applies to the material from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
that has been examined above, but this has not been rigorously established, it being possible that there is more than one species present in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, with the true M. antipodum not being represented among the recently examined material. Therefore the identity and nomenclature of M. antipodum and M. fieldi is at present still very unclear. It should be noted that brachyptery has not been reported for M. fieldi queens from Australia , but has been reported from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and indeed it is not entirely clear if fully winged queens occur in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(see fig. 2 for a photo of a brachypterous queen from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
). At present, the safest option is to call the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
material Monomorium cf. fieldi, and consider M. antipodum to be a species inquirenda. in et al. (2010: 455) listed M. fieldi from New Zealand as a species inquirenda, and made no mention of M. antipodum. However, it is the species corresponding to the name M. antipodum which is uncertain, not the species corresponding to M. fieldi. It is at present unclear if material from New Zealand is correctly identified as M. fieldi, but this does not make M. fieldi into a species inquirenda.