Pheidole plagiaria F. Smith, 1860: 112 Pheidole divergens Mayr, 1867: 97 Mayr, 1879: 675 P. plagiaria Pheidole peguensis r. yomensis Forel, 1903: 253 A revision of Northern Vietnamese species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) Eguchi, Katsuyuki Zootaxa 2008 2008-10-15 1902 1 1 118 4FYJ4 F. Smith F. Smith [151,485,1530,1556] Insecta Formicidae Pheidole Animalia Hymenoptera 72 73 Arthropoda species plagiaria   Figs. 20a–g, 32e, 32f      Pheidole plagiariaF. Smith, 1860: 112. Eguchi, Bui et al.2005: 90 (checklist).  Syntypes: 3 majors & 3 minors, “Bac” [ Batjan, Indonesia], OXUMTYPE HYM: 983 1-2/6, 3-4/6 & 5-6/6, examined.     Pheidole divergens Mayr, 1867: 97.  Mayr, 1879: 675(junior synonym of  P. plagiaria).  Syntypes: major, minor, queen & male, Indonesia, not examined.     Pheidole peguensis r. yomensis Forel, 1903: 253. Syn.n. Syntype: 1 major, “Lower Burma PeguYoma 1 1900 Bingham” [ Myanmer], MHNG, examined, designated as  lectotype[ Fig. 32e, 32f]. Current subspecies ( Bolton, 1995): nominal plus moica Forel, 1911c: 222, syntype(s): major, Central part of Southern Vietnam, not examined; palawanicaStitz, 1925: 118, syntypes: 2 majors, “N. PalawanBinaluan Boettcher” [ Philippines], ZMHB, examined; rectilineataViehmeyer, 1916b: 288–289, syntype(s): major, Sulawesi (in copal), not examined.   Other material examined:S. China: Hainan: Jianling N.R., Wanling [J. Fellowes]. Vietnam: Thai Nguyen: My Yen Commune Forest, 21°35’N, 135°36’E, Na Hau Village [Eg01-VN-147]; Vinh Phuc: Tam Dao N.P., 21°27’N, 105°38’E, 800–900 malt. [Eg99-VN-037, -038], Tam Dao N.P., 900 malt. [Eg99-VN- 001, -005, -008, -009; Eg01-VN-104, -106], Tam Dao N.P., 900–1100 malt. [Eg99-VN-052], Tam Dao N.P., 1100 malt. [VN98-SKY-14]; Ha Tay (mislabeled as “Ha Tai”): Ba Vi N.P., 400–800 malt. [Eg99-VN-119]. Thailand: Chiang Mai: Doi Ang Khang HQ, 1300 malt. [TH98-SKY-28], Doi Chiang Dao [Eg01-TH-122, - 134, -148], Doi Chiang Dao, 500–600 malt. [TH98-SKY-18], Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., 600 malt. [TH98-SKY- 04], Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., 800 malt. [TH98-SKY-08], Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., 800–900 malt. [Eg01-TH-069, - 096, -098, -100], Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., 900 malt. [Eg01-TH-082, -083, -086, -087, -089, -090], Doi Suthep- Pui N.P., 1200 malt. (Doi Pui) [Eg01-TH-110, -118]; Nakhonratchasima: Khao Yai N.P. [TH00-SKY-24], nr. Sakaerat Environmental Research Centre [Eg99-TH-020; Eg01-TH-532, -549]; Chanthabri: Khao Soi Dao [Eg01-TH-021]; Chacheongsao: Lumchangwat Station, Khao Ang Reu Nai W.S. [TH03-SKY-69]; Pattani: Soi Khao [TH98-SKY-40]; Trang: Khao Chong Waterfall [Eg01-TH-708, -714, -723, -736, -745, -746, -758]; Songkhla: Ton Nga Chang, nr. Hat Yai [Eg01-TH-613, -615, -626, -628], SongkhlaUniv. (Khao Kor Hong) [Eg01-TH-597, -598]; Narathiwat: Bala area of Bala-Hala W.S. [Eg01-TH-636]. Myanmar: Chin: between Kampetlet and Natmataung N.P., 1670 malt. [MM02-SKY-46], between Kampetlet and Natmataung N.P., 1700 malt. [MM02-SKY-02], between Kampetlet and Natmataung N.P., 1760 malt. [MM02-SKY-34], Natmataung N.P., 2000 malt. [MM02-SKY-10], Natmataung N.P., 21°13’N, 93°56’E, 2000 malt. [MM02-SKY- 24, -26, -29]. W. Malaysia: Selangor: Ulu Gombak [FI92MG-174, -383]. E. Malaysia: Sabah: Deramakot Forest Reserve [C. Brühl], Gunong Rara [Eg96-BOR-351, -363; Eg97-BOR-526, -534, -556, -566], Poring, 450– 500 malt. [Eg96-BOR-271], Poring, 500–550 malt. [Eg96-BOR-294], Poring, 600 malt., [T. Kikuta’s colony: 8-A, 43A, 731, 6XI2306S1-4], Sepilok Forest [Eg97-BOR-412, -418, -460, -464; Eg98-BOR-871], Tawau Hills Park [Sk. Yamane]; Sarawak: Lambir Hills N.P. [Eg98-BOR-803, -808, -817, -819, -825, -829], Lambir Hills N.P. (Inoue Trail) [SR04-SKY-67]. Brunei: Belalong Forest Section [Eg99-BOR-211], Merimbun Heritage Park (=Tasek Merimbun) [Eg99-BOR-007, -008, -028, -030, -035, -070, -074, -123, -150, -552, -567, -568; Eg00-BOR-019, -022, -064]. Indonesia: E. Kalimantan: Sangkimah, Kutai N.P. [Sk. Yamane]; W. Sumatra: Sukarami, nr. Padang [FI92-66, -83; FI96-162; M. Kawamura’s colony: 9/29c (1999)]; Krakatau Is.: P. Rakata Besar [Kagoshima Univ. Krakatau Exp.]; W. Java: Cibodas [M. Kawamura’s colony: D28 (1997)], Kebun Raya, Bogor [FI95-534, -784; Sk. Yamane; M. Kawamura’s colony: 154 (1998), 9/26a (1999), 10/5b (1999), 10/5c (1999)], G. Halimun [FI98-373; M. Kawamura’s colony: 5/6a (1998)], Pangandaran [FI95-705], Ciater, 1350 malt. [Syaukani]; C. Java: Borobudur, nr. Yogyakarta[Sk. Yamane], Kaliadem, 800–1000 malt., G. Merapi [JV02/03-SKY-38]; E. Java: Sumberbrantas, 1600 malt., Tulungrejo, Batu [JV02/03-SKY-78, -79]; Bali: Kebun Raya [FI94-137]. Philippines: Leyte: Baybay, Mt. Pangasugan, Calbiga-a River [Zettel].   Worker measurement & indices:Major (n=5). — HL 1.65–1.89 mm, HW 1.59–1.77 mm, CI 91–98, SL 1.03–1.22 mm, SI 59–71, FL 1.42–1.70 mm, FI 85–99. Minor (n=5). — HL 0.79–0.93 mm, HW 0.67–0.75 mm, CI 81–85, SL 1.01–1.20 mm, SI 146–163, FL 1.12–1.36 mm, FI 162–181.  Worker description Major. — Head in lateral view not or only very weakly impressed on vertex; posterior margin of head in full-face view relatively widely and deeply concave; longitudinal rugulae running on the frons and then spreading posterolaterad as they run almost transversely on the posteriormost part of the dorsum of vertexal lobe; posterolateral face of head with oblique rugulae which run anteroventrad from dorsal face of vertexal lobe; frontal carina conspicuous; antennal scrobe inconspicuous or only weakly impressed; median longitudinal carina of clypeus present but weak, or rarely absent; median and submedian processes of hypostoma inconspicuous or absent; lateral processes conspicuous; outer surface of mandible covered with relatively long decumbent hairs; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye a little longer, as long as, or a little shorter than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome in dorsal view transversely rugose with interspaces smooth to shagreened, or smooth to shagreened with sparse several transverse rugulae; the dome in lateral view with a low prominence or mound on its posterior slope; humerus of the dome not or hardly produced laterad; the dome at the humeri narrower than at the bottom; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of pro- podeum rugoso-reticulate, with enclosures punctured. Outer surface of foretibia bearing relatively long decumbent-suberect hairs. Petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive. First gastral tergite largely smooth and shining, but sometimes weakly punctured around its articulation with postpetiole.   FIGURE 20a–d,  Pheidole plagiaria, major [Eg99-VN-037] — a, head in full-face view; b, head in lateral view; c, mesosoma and waist in dorsal view; d, mesosoma and waist in lateral view.   FIGURE 20e–g,  Pheidole plagiaria, minor [Eg99-VN-037] — e, head in full-face view; f, mesosoma and waist in dorsal view; g, mesosoma and waist in lateral view. Minor. — Frons and dorsal face of vertex smooth and shining, or very weakly punctured or rugoso-punctate; area between antennal insertion and eye rugose or rugoso-punctate; preoccipital carina well-developed; median part of clypeus with a zigzag or ramified (but rarely straight) median carina which is usually accompanied with weak rugulae; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape extending far beyond posterolateral margin of head; maximal diameter of eye shorter than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome smooth and shining, or in dorsal view concentrically rugose, with a median area smooth and shining or very weakly punctured; the posterior slope of the dome with a low mound which bears several (>2) standing hairs; humerus in dorsooblique view not or hardly produced; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum punctured, usually overlain by weak rugoso-reticulation; propodeal spine horn-like or elongate-triangular, narrowly based, directing relatively upward. Petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive.  Recognition:The syntypemajor of  Pheidole peguensisr. yomensisForelagrees with the majors of Thai populations of  Pheidole plagiaria(e.g., Eg01-TH-083). Thus, I here synonymize  Pheidole peguensisr. yomensiswith  P.plagiaria. Three  Pheidoleminors which are pinned together and labeled as “  Ph plagiariaSm v. moicaFor.... Moïs Cochinchine (Dugas)” were examined (MHNG). The top of the pin is undoubtedly a minor of  Pheidole plagiaria, while the middle is the other  Pheidolespecies, and the bottom is  Pheidologetonsp.Forel (1911) described “  P. plagiariavar. moica” based on the major subcaste, and so I refrain from resolving the synonymy. This species is characterized among Indo-Chinese species by the combination of the following features: in the major posterior margin of head in full-face view relatively widely and deeply concave; in the major the posteriormost part of the dorsum of vertexal lobe almost transversely rugose; in the major and minor the posterior slope of promosonotal dome with a prominence or mound; in the major outer surface of foretibia bearing relatively long decumbent-suberect hairs; in the minor median part of clypeus with a zigzag or ramified (but rarely straight) median carina which is usually accompanied with weak rugulae. The minor of this species is similar to that of  P. binghami, but in the latter median part of clypeus has no rugula and the mound on the posterior slope of promesonotal dome has only a pair of hairs.   Distribution & bionomics:Widely distributed in the Indo-Chinese, Indo-Malayan subregions and Austro-Malayan subregion. Indo-Malayan populations inhabit well-developed forests, and usually nest in rotting logs and wood fragments. On the other hand, Indo-Chinese populations often occur in forest edges and even in open lands adjacent to forests, and usually nest in the soil (Eguchi 2001). OXUM Indonesia Batjan 72 73 1 syntype Indonesia Indonesia 72 73 1 syntype [433,773,1805,1831] MHNG Myanmar Myanmer 72 73 2 Bago syntype