Pheidole fervida F. Smith

Eguchi, K., 2008, A revision of Northern Vietnamese species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)., Zootaxa 1902, pp. 1-118 : 28-31

Pheidole fervida F. Smith

Figs. 6a-h

Pheidole fervida F. Smith , 1874: 406. Ogata, 1982: 195 (male genitalia). Syntypes: major & queen, Hiogo [Hyogo, Japan], not examined.

Other material examined: Mainland Japan: Hokkaido: Misumai, 200 m alt., Sapporo [S. Takahashi]; Kyoto: Ashiu Experimental Forest (Miyama-cho) [D. Wiwatwitaya's colony: JP02-DW-01, -02, -03]; Ehime: Mts. Ishizuchi, 650-700 m alt. [JP03-SKY-04]; Kagoshima: Hoyoshi-jinja, 390 m alt., Hoyoshi-dake, Mts. Kimotsuki [H. Watanabe]. S. Korea: Gangwon-Do: Baekdamsa, 500-800 m alt., Seoraksan N.P. [ KR 03-SKY- 18], Osaek-summit, 550-750 m alt., Seoraksan N.P. [Sk. Yamane], Jeohangryeong V., 270-300 m alt., Seoraksan N.P. [ KR 03-SKY-31], Jeohangryeong V., 560 m alt., Seoraksan N.P. [ KR 03-SKY-30]. S. China: Guizhou: Pudi Xiang, Dafang [L. Latella]. Taiwan: Chiayi: Funkiko [S. Kubota's sample 80-E-B11]. Vietnam: Lai Chau: W. Cong Troi (western slope of Mt. Phansipan), 2100-2200 m alt. [Eg02-VN-317, -319, -321, -324, - 326, -329, -331, -335]; Lao Cai: Ban Khoang (Site-A: stream-side secondary forest), 1700-1800 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-115, -118, -134], Ban Khoang (Site-A: shoulder of a road), 1700-1800 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN- 135], Cat Cat (a trail to Phansipan), 1300-1400 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-257], Cong Troi (Site-B: well-developed forest), 2000 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-091, -092, -093, -096, -107], Cong Troi (Site-C: stream-side secondary forest), 2000-2200 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-146, -150, -158, -161], Cong Troi (Site-D: well-developed forest), 2100-2200 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-182, -185, -188, -192, -197, -199, -295, -297, -299, -304, -306, - 309, -312], Cong Troi (Site-E: well-developed forest), 2100-2200 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-232, -234, -236, - 238, -240, -242, -244, -246, -250], Y Linh Ho (a small fragment of forest), 1100 m alt., Sa Pa [Eg02-VN-223], Sa Seng (small fragment of limestone forest) [Eg02-VN-275, -287].

Worker measurements & indices: Major (n=5). - HL 1.30-1.43 mm; HW 1.31-1.47 mm; CI 94-104; SL 0.68-0.78 mm; SI 50-53; FL 0.88-1.06 mm; FI 66-73.

Minor (n=5). - HL 0.62-0.66 mm; HW 0.58-0.63 mm; CI 88-95; SL 0.58-0.72 mm; SI 94-124; FL 0.60-0.77 mm; FI 102-133.

Worker description

Major. - Head in full-face view relatively shallowly concave posteriorly, in lateral view roundly convex dorsally, not impressed on vertex; frons and vertex rugose longitudinally, with interspaces smooth; vertexal lobe smooth and shining (but rarely dimly rugosed); frontal carina weak, or inconspicous just as rugula(e); antennal scrobe almost absent, or present but inconspicuous; median part of clypeus smooth, without a median longitudinal carina absent (rarely with a very weak carina); hypostoma with median and submedian processes in addition to conspicuous lateral processes; submedian processes always conspicuous, but median process often less conspicuous than submedian processes; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye longer than antennal segment X; outer surface of mandible smooth (excluding the basal area), with relatively long decumbent hairs. Promesonotal dome sparsely rugose transverselly, with interspaces smooth and shining, in lateral view with a low to inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; humerus not or very weakly produced laterad; the dome at the humeri as broad as at the bottom, or narrower than at the bottom. Petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive, sometimes with its lateral corner forming a conspicuous horn. First gastral tergite smooth and shining entirely.

Minor. - Dorsum of head variable in sculpture, usually rugoso-reticulate or rugoso-punctate at least partly, but sometimes smooth and shining almost entirely; preoccipital carina present dorsally and laterally, but often very weak dorsally; median part of clypeus smooth and shining; median longitudinal carina absent, or present but inconspicuous; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape usually exceeding posterior margin of head by the length of antennal segment II or more; maximal diameter of eye almost as long as or shorter than antennal segment X. Dorsum of promesonotal dome smooth and shining with several rugulae or rugoso-reticulate with enclosures almost smooth and shining, or rarely rugoso-punctuate largely; the dome in lateral view with a low to inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; humerus of the dome in dorsal-oblique view hardly or very weakly produced laterad; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum usually punctured very weakly or weakly. Petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive.

Recognition: Posterior margin of head of the minor is generally more convex in N. Vietnamese populations than in Korean and Japanese populations. However, in population(s) of Lao Cai and Lai Chau, N. Vietnam, the minor is variable not only in the convexity of posterior margin of head but also in the sculpture on frons and vertex. It is also possible that P. fervida recognized here actually includes two or more sibling species.

A variant of P. fervida (the minor having sculptured frons and vertex) is similar to P. ryukyuensis Ogata . However, in the major of P. ryukyuensis posterior margin of head in full-face view is rather deeply concave; and in the major and minor of P. ryukyuensis mound on the posterior slope of promesonotal dome is almost absent (see also Ogata 1982). Another variant of P fervida (the minor having smooth head) is similar to a variant of P. vulgaris (the major having almost smooth vertexal lobe). However, in the major of P. vulgaris the head rather long; and in the major and minor of P. vulgaris the mound on the posterior slope of promesonotal dome is almost absent.

Distribution & bionomics: Known from N. Vietnam, mainland Japan, N. Ryukyus and Korean Peninsula. This species seems to be restricted to cool-temperate to warm-temperate humid areas in East and Southeast Asia. It usually inhabits well-developed natural forests, man-made woody habitats (timber plantations, woody gardens, etc.) and forest edges, and nests mainly in rotting logs and other wood material, and sometimes in the litter/soil, and among root networks of vegetation on the rocks.