Unicoloniality
Guides
Monomorium
Trailing, Pharaoh, and Timid Ants
Monomorium is a large and morphologically diverse genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, containing approximately 396 species as of 2013. The genus exhibits remarkable variation in worker size, eye development, and caste polymorphism, with species ranging from minute to relatively large. It includes several significant pest species, notably the pharaoh ant (M. pharaonis) and the flower ant (M. floricola), which have achieved global distribution through human commerce. The genus is considered taxonomically problematic, lacking distinct morphological synapomorphies and currently recognized as paraphyletic, with several subgroups recently elevated to separate genera based on molecular evidence.
Tapinoma
Tapinoma is a moderately diverse genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, comprising approximately 87 described species (81 extant, 6 fossil) with a crown age estimated at 34–49 million years. Species occur worldwide in tropical and temperate regions, exhibiting generalized foraging behavior and flexible nesting habits. Several species, including T. sessile and T. melanocephalum, are notable as household pests and invasive species associated with human disturbance.