Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen): zoogeography, distribution and description of a new species Author Sharaf, Mostafa R. Author Fisher, Brian L. Author Collingwood, Cedric A. Author Aldawood, Abdulrahman S. text Journal of Natural History 2017 J. Nat. Hist. 2017-01-27 51 5 - 6 317 378 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2016.1271157 journal article 55739 10.1080/00222933.2016.1271157 f91a0e7b-c4c5-458a-858a-9de4cf82e13f 1464-5262 5184295 89612083-9CE6-48E8-8975-1CE5334E098B Monomorium exiguum Forel, 1894 ( Figure 14 (a–c)) For full synonymy see Heterick (2006) , pp.115–116. Monomorium exiguum Forel, 1894: 85 . ( Lectotype worker ) Ethiopia . Afrotropical . ‘ Ethiopia , Sudabessinien. ’ ( MHNG ), http://www.antweb.org/specimen/CASENT0101870 [Image of type specimen examined]. Monomorium baushare Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 342 (w.) Oman . Palaearctic. (WMLC), http://www.antweb.org/specimen/CASENT0906343. Syntype worker [examined], Syn. nov. Monomorium qarahe Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 353 (w.) KSA . Afrotropical (WMLC), http://www.antweb.org/specimen/CASENT0906344. Syntype worker [examined], Syn. nov. Figure 14. Monomorium exiguum . (a) Body in profile. (b) Head in full-face view, CASENT0906390, AntWeb.org, (Estella Ortega), KSA. (c) Distribution map from recent records. Diagnosis Worker . Eyes small, with six ommatidia in the longest row; promesonotum convex in profile; metanotal groove impressed; pronotum with a single pair of erect hairs at the humeri. Colour uniform yellow to pale yellowish brown; posterior margin of first gastral tergite, lateral sides and remaining tergites, usually darker than disc of first tergite. Material examined Yemen , Socotra Island , Deyishil village , 21 April 2014 , 180 m, (M. R . Sharaf leg.), 12.52010° N , 54.17438°E (2 w, KSMA ); Yemen , Socotra Island , W. Jo’ o, 21 April 2014 , 196 m, (M. R . Sharaf leg.), 12.54038°N , 54.17186°E (5 w, KSMA ); Yemen , Socotra Island , W. Ayhift , 20 April 2014 , 38 m, (M. R . Sharaf leg.), 12.61064°N , 53.97672°E (12 w, 1 q, KSMA ); Yemen , Socotra Island , Lehanoh , 22 April 2014 , 931 m, (M. R . Sharaf leg.), 12.57583°N , 54.04836°E (1 w, KSMA ); Yemen , Socotra Island , W. Jo’ o, 21 April 2014 , 196 m, (M. R . Sharaf leg.), 12.54038°N , 54.17186°E (1 w, CASC ) . Note Collingwood and Agosti (1996) described Monomorium baushare from Oman and Yemen , and Monomorium qarahe from KSA based on the worker castes. Comparison of type material of both species with that of Monomorium exiguum indicates the above synonymy. Geographic range This minute species belongs to the Monomorium monomorium -group and has been recorded from numerous countries in the Afrotropical region including Ivory Coast , Nigeria , Cameroun , Gabon , Zaire , Ethiopia , Kenya and Zimbabwe ( Bolton 1987 ). In the Mediterranean region it has been reported from the Balearic Islands ( Gòmez and Espadaleer 2006 ) and Egypt ( Sharaf 2006 ). Monomorium exiguum was recorded from the Asir Mountains, KSA by Aldawood and Sharaf (2009) . This species is a new record for Socotra . Ecological and biological notes This tiny yellow species was found nesting under a stone next to a large fig tree and inside the galleries of a termite nest. The soil was dry with ample dry seeds. Another nest series was found in leaf litter next to a date palm tree where the soil was rich in decaying organic material.