Pheidole creightoni Gregg

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 573

Pheidole creightoni Gregg

Pheidole creightoni Gregg 1955a: 19.

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after the pioneering American myrmecologist William S. Creighton.

diagnosis A member of the " pilifera complex" of the larger pilifera group; for a characterization of the complex, see under pilifera . P. creightoni is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: occiput in side view very broad, as much as 1.5X the anterior cephalic capsule border; promesonotum forms a smooth, single convexity; petiolar node tapering to a blunt point in side view and with a deeply concave border seen from behind; postpetiole from above spinose.

Minor: yellowish brown; eye very large; humerus subangulate in dorsal-oblique view; petiolar node tapers to a blunt point in side view; postpetiole seen from above trapezoidal.

Measurements (mm) Paratype major: HW 1.22, HL 1.32, SL 0.58, EL 0.16, PW 0.48. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.60, SL 0.52, EL 0.14, PW 0.32.

Color Major: most of body and head, as well as mandibles, light reddish yellow; gaster plain light brown; legs clear dark yellow. Minor: body light yellowish brown, appendages clear dark yellow.

Range Northern California to Oregon and Nevada.

Biology William S. Creighton (in Gregg 1955a) found 18 earthen nests of creightoni at the type locality, frequently near nests of the much larger ant Messor (= Veromessor) andrei. The entrances were surrounded by large rings of chaff, indicating that seeds are an important part of the diet. Tissue of freshly killed ground squirrels was also accepted by the majors and minors, which foraged in fdes. Soil nests have also been recorded on museum labels, in California by Diane W. Davidson and in Nevada by Philip S. Ward. Nuptial flights were recorded in August and September by Davidson and by Creighton respectively; they occurred about an hour before sunset.

Figure Upper: paratype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. OREGON: Applegate, Jackson Co. Scale bars = 1 mm.