A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Author Ward, P. S. text Zootaxa 2005 936 1 68 journal article 39107 10.5281/zenodo.171144 7b235ee0-db22-4606-8a01-05936f594932 171144 Genus Monomorium Mayr California appears to have a single indigenous species of this genus, M. ergatogyna , a ground­nesting species which is widely but patchily distributed throughout the state except at high elevations. The reasons for treating M. wheelerorum as a junior synonym have been discussed above (under “Taxonomic Changes”). The introduced Pharaoh’s ant, M. pharaonis (Linnaeus) , is a frequent pest in buildings in urban California. A second introduced species, similar to M. pharaonis but with a more elongate head and more shagreened sculpture, has been collected once in the state (images and locality information on AntWeb). Species identification: keys in Wheeler and Wheeler ( 1986g ) . Additional references: Adams and Traniello (1981) , Andersen et al. (1991) , Berndt and Eichler (1987) , Bolton (1987) , DuBois (1986 , 2000 ), Fernández (2005), Heterick (2001) , Jones et al . (1982a , 1982b ), Knight and Rust (1990) .