Journal of Insect Science (2010) 10 (15), 1-17

Daniel Russ Solis, Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson Fox, Luciane Mayumi Kato, Carlos Massuretti de Jesus, Antonio Teruyoshi Yabuki, Ana Eugênia de Carvalho Campos and Odair Correa Bueno (2010)
Morphological description of the immatures of the ant, Monomorium floricola
Journal of Insect Science 10 (15), 1-17
Abstract: Some ant species of the genus Monomorium Mayr occur worldwide and are considered important urban pests. The larvae of only a few species of this genus have been described, and these descriptions are either superficial or incomplete. This study aimed to determine the number of larval instars and describe the immature stages of the ant Monomorium floricola Jerdon (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Specimens were analyzed and measured using light and scanning electron microscopy. Three larval instars were found, and all larvae had pheidoloid bodies with ectatommoid mandibles, consistent with other Monomorium species described previously. Five types of body hairs were described, and their distribution was instar-specific. Body and mandible dimensions of the larvae also were constant for each instar. Like other Myrmicinae, the larvae did not create a cocoon. Some of differences among the hair types and sensilla were observed by comparing the samples with larvae of other species in the genus, and these differences may have taxonomic utility.
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Database assignments for author(s): Odair Correa Bueno, Eduardo G.P. Fox

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Monomorium floricola		Brazil (south)