Monomorium mayri Forel, 1902

Collingwood, C. A., Pohl, F., Güsten, R., Wranik, W., van Harten, A., 2004, The ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago, Fauna of Arabia 20, pp. 473-495 : 484

Monomorium mayri Forel, 1902

Monomorium gracillimum var. mayri Forel, 1902 . - Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 209. (India).

Monomorium mayri . - COLLINGWOOD & VAN HARTEN 1994: 39.

Specimens examined: Yemen, Socotra Island:spms from Hadibo , 13-14.IV.1993, A. van Harten, CCC ; spms from Nojid , 16.IV.1993, A. van Harten, CCC ; spms from Wadi Daneghan , 04.X.1998, A. van Harten, CCC ; spms from Hasaant , X.1998, W. Wranik, CWWR ; spms from Diksam , X.1998, W. Wranik, CWWR ; 1 ☿, Adho Dimello, base camp , 12°34'N 54°02'E, 940 m, 03.II.1999, H. Pohl, NHCY ; spms from Hadibo, 04.II.2000, W. Wranik, CWWR ; spms from Wadi Daneghan, 19.II.2000, W. Wranik, CWWR ; 1 ☿, Goeeh , 12°32'N 54°10'E, 240 m, 23.X.2000, A. van Harten, NHCY ; 1 ☿, Diksam, camp , 12°31N 53°57 E, 26-27.X.2000, A. van Harten, HLMD-Hym-2082 ; 1 ☿, Hadibo and immediate surroundings , 12°37N 54°01'E, 20.X.-01.XI.2000, H. Pohl, HLMD-Hym-2083 . - Yemen, Samha Island: spms from coastal area, 15.II.1999, W. Wranik, CWWR .

Remarks: This species is distinguished from M. destructor only by the evenly dark colour in all individuals. The Socotran samples are of single or few specimens, and a few individuals thus coloured are present in larger M. destructor nest samples. It is hence possible that the M. mayri records from Socotra in fact refer to M. destructor , or even that these species are really synonymous. A study on more samples of different provenance will be necessary to clarify the situation. Records of M. mayri originate generally from the same geographical areas as those of M. destructor , though M. mayri has been collected more commonly in the northern Ethiopian Region.