Pheidole calens

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 563

Pheidole calens Forel

Pheidole carbonaria r. calens Forel 1901d: 130. Raised to species level by Kempf 1972b: 188.

Types Mus. Hist. Nat. Geneve; Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Unknown.

diagnosis A member of the " pilifera complex" of the larger pilifera group, comprising calens , californica , carrolli , cavigenis , clementensis , creightoni , hoplitica , littoralis , micula , pilifera , polymorpha , rugulosa , senex , soritis , tepicana , and torosa , which complex is characterized by the following traits. Major: dorsal head surface extensively sculptured; occipital lobes horizontally rugulose (or, in carrolli smooth, in littoralis foveate, and in micula and soritis carinulate); postpetiole from above diamond-shaped, trapezoidal, or spinose. Minor: eye medium-sized to large.

P. calens is distinguished within this complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: posterior dorsal profile of head weakly concave; humerus in dorsal-oblique view prominent and sub-rectangular; mesonotal convexity prominent; petiolar node in side view thin; postpetiole from above laterally spinose.

Minor: eyes very large; propodeal spine in side view equilaterally triangular.

Measurements (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.30, HL 1.50, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.66.

Syntype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.64, SL 0.50, EL 0.20, PW 0.34.

Color Major: concolorous light reddish brown.

Minor: body concolorous plain medium brown, mandibles yellow, legs light brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology P. calens appears to be a commensal of the large harvesting ants in the genus Pogonomyrmex . Wheeler (190 lh), in his notes to Auguste Forel on the type series, reported as follows: "This feeble Pheidole was found in a number of instances inhabiting small nests within the precincts of the Pogonomyrmex colonies, either on the denuded disks or on the slopes of the gravel cones near the entrances of the agriculturals. It was seen more frequently in this association than either Dorymyrmex pyramicus or Forelius maccooki , and was not seen nesting by itself as is very frequently the case with these species."

Figure Upper: syntype, major. Lower: syntype, minor. MEXICO: Aguascalientes (W. M. Wheeler). Scale bars = 1 mm.