Pheidole, Westwood

FISCHER, G. & FISHER, B. L., 2013, A revision of Pheidole Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the islands of the Southwest Indian Ocean and designation of a neotype for the invasive Pheidole megacephala, Zootaxa 3683 (4), pp. 301-356 : 307-313

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3683.4.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2A3C7450-C8D8-479C-A295-C2BB49A151EF

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6391537

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A93CCE11-FFCF-462C-FF31-E493FA2B3027

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Pheidole
status

 

Synopsis of Pheidole species in the Southwest Indian Ocean islands

braueri Forel, 1897

decepticon Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

dodo Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

fervens Smith, F., 1858 = pungens Smith, 1861 = javana Mayr, 1867 = cavannae Emery, 1887 = javana var. dharmsalana Forel, 1902 = amia Forel, 1912 = javana var. dolenda Forel, 1912 = oceanica subsp. nigriscapa Santschi, 1928 = oceanic subsp. nigriscapa var. tahitiana Cheesman & Crawley, 1928 = javana var. desucta Wheeler, 1929 = javana var. soror Santschi, 1937b = nodus st. azumai Santschi, 1941

jonas Forel, 1907

komori Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

loki Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

megacephala (Fabricius), 1973 = edax Forskål, 1775 = trinodis Losana, 1834 = pusilla Heer, 1852 = janus Smith, 1858 = laevigata Smith, 1855 = laevigata Mayr, 1862 = agilis Smith, F., 1857 = testacea Smith, F. 1858 = perniciosa Gerstäcker, 1859 = suspiciosa Smith, F., 1859 = megacephala r. scabrior Forel, 1891 syn. n. = picata Forel, 1891 syn. n. = punctulata r. gietleni Forel, 1905 syn. n. = picata var. bernhardae Emery, 1915 syn. n.

megatron Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

parva Mayr, 1865 = parva var. decanica Forel, 1902 = flavens var. farquharensis Forel, 1907 syn. n. = sauteri Wheeler, 1909 = rinae var. mala Forel, 1911 = rinae r. tipuna Forel, 1912 = bugi Wheeler, 1919 = tardus Donisthorpe, 1947 syn. n.

ragnax Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

teneriffana Forel, 1893 = voeltzkowii Forel, 1894 syn. n. = teneriffana subsp. taina Aguayo, 1932

vulcan Fischer & Fisher sp. n.

Key to Pheidole species in the islands of the Southwest Indian Ocean (minor and major workers)

1a. Minors & majors: Relatively large species (WL minors 0.76–1.07, WL majors 1.06–1.65), with scapes and legs moderately long to very long (SI minors 120–209, FI minors 134–226, FL majors 1.01–168) and promesonotal process well-developed, angulate to subangulate, with a relatively deep angular groove in lateral view ( Fig. 2A,B View FIGURE 2 )............................ 2

1b. Minors & majors: Mostly smaller species (WL minors 0.51–0.84, WL majors 0.70–1.22), with scapes and legs usually shorter (SI minors 85–130, FI minors 91–135, FL majors 0.55–1.06) and promesonotal process absent ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ), or if present in major workers then the transverse groove in profile view at most shallowly concave ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 )....................... 5

2a. Minors: Postpetiole with convex ventral process ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Majors: Head significantly longer than wide (CI 82–88). Posterior half of face lacking longitudinal rugae ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Submedian hypostomal teeth moderately large. Postpetiole with small acute ventral process. Comoros Is., Mozambique.......................................................... P.komori

2b. Minors: Postpetiole without ventral process ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Majors: Head about as wide as long (CI 93–101). Face with longitudinal to posteriorly oblique rugae reaching toward posterolateral corners ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Submedian hypostomal teeth small or inconspicuous. Postpetiole without ventral process................................................................ 3

3a. Minors: Head almost 50% longer than wide (CI 67–72) with raised occipital carina ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ), metafemur very long, more than twice as long as head width (FI 209–226). Majors: Frontal carinae and antennal scrobe absent or inconspicuous ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ), legs comparatively long (FI 99). Mayotte............................................................... P. ragnax

3b. Minors: Head relatively shorter (CI 72–88) and without raised occipital carina ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ), metafemur shorter (FI 134–170). Majors: Frontal carinae and antennal scrobe present and conspicuous ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ), legs shorter (FI 73–91)................. 4

4a. Minors: Scape and metatibia pilosity mostly subdecumbent to suberect ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ), metanotal groove in profile well-impressed ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ), eyes moderately large (mean EI 22), and propodeal spines relatively short (mean PSLI: 12). Majors: Frontal carinae reaching at least 4/5 of the distance to posterior head margin, scrobe area and sides of head punctate to weakly punctate, in fullface view with coarse suberect hairs laterally ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ). ( Mauritius) widespread, introduced species..... P. fervens Smith, F. View in CoL

4b. Minors: Scape and metatibia pilosity decumbent to subdecumbent, plus longer suberect hairs along outer edge ( Fig. 5D View FIGURE 5 ), metanotal groove not or barely impressed in profile ( Fig. 5E View FIGURE 5 ), eyes slightly larger (mean EI 28), and spines relatively longer (mean PSLI: 16). Majors: Frontal carinae reaching ¾ of the distance to posterior head margin, scrobe area and sides of head superficially punctate, in full-face view with decumbent to subdecumbent hairs laterally ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ). ( Comoros Is., Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles) widespread, introduced species.................................. P. teneriffana Forel View in CoL

5a. Minors & majors: Postpetiole in profile with large to moderately large, usually convex, ventral process ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ), in some major workers widely subtriangular, but never acute ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ), and postpetiole almost always higher than petiole (PpHI minors 100–146, PpHI majors 104–123). Minors: Face entirely smooth and shiny and scapes moderately short (SI 107–130), head shape oval, posterior head margin in full-face view rounded to medially straight ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ), promesonotum in profile roundly convex: Majors: Submedian hypostomal teeth always small to inconspicuous and median process absent................ 6

5b. Minors & majors: Postpetiolar ventral process absent ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ), or if present in major workers, then small and acute ( Fig. 6E View FIGURE 6 ), never convex or broadly triangular in profile, and postpetiole usually lower than petiole, only very rarely higher in major workers (PpHI minors 73–97, PpHI majors 79–106). Minors: Face usually punctate, if face entirely smooth and shiny then head shape posteriorly more broadly transverse and scapes shorter (SI 91–98) ( Fig. 6F View FIGURE 6 ), promesonotum in profile flatly convex and elongate. Majors: Submedian hypostomal teeth never small to inconspicuous, but relatively large, median process present or absent............................................................................................... 8

6a. Minors: Standing hairs relatively fine and acute, abundant, and with several shorter hairs between longer pilosity ( Fig. 7A View FIGURE 7 ). Majors: Postpetiolar ventral process slightly angulate to subtriangular in profile and small to moderately large, not convex, standing hairs relatively fine and acute ( Fig. 7B View FIGURE 7 ). Comoros Is., Juan de Nova Is., Mayotte, Seychelles......... P. decepticon

6b. Minors: Standing hairs relatively thicker, often blunt or bifurcate apically, and usually less abundant, with few or almost no shorter hairs between longer pilosity ( Fig. 7C View FIGURE 7 ). Majors: Postpetiolar ventral process larger and convex, standing hairs thicker ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 ), often blunt or apically bifurcate................................................................. 7

7a. Minors: Head about 0.9 times as wide as long (CI 86–92) and postpetiole about 0.8 times the length of petiole (PpLI 70–91) ( Fig. 8A View FIGURE 8 ). Majors: Head usually heart shaped with posterior emargination moderately deep, sides of head strongly convex, posterior 1/3 to 1/4 of face, behind level where scapes end, smooth and shiny except for weak median rugae ( Fig. 8B View FIGURE 8 ), posterolateral corners of head in profile ventrally smooth and shiny, at most with microsculpture present ( Fig. 8C View FIGURE 8 ). ( Comoros, Juan de Nova Is., Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Seychelles) globally introduced species.. P. megacephala (Fabricius) View in CoL

7b. Minors: Head slightly narrower (CI 82–87) and postpetiole shorter, about 0.7 times the length of petiole (PpLI 63–71) ( Fig. 8D View FIGURE 8 ). Majors: Head less heart shaped, with posterior emargination relatively shallow ( Fig. 8E View FIGURE 8 ), posterior 1/3 to 1/4 of head not completely smooth and shiny, some specimens superficially punctate, and some specimens with few to several, short, irregular, longitudinal rugulae, posterolateral corners of head in profile ventrally with punctate to weakly punctate sculpture ( Fig. 8F View FIGURE 8 ). Comoros Is................................................................................. P. megatron

8a. Minors: Face smooth ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ) to medially superficially punctate and laterally punctate to weakly punctate, with scape pilosity mostly suberect ( Fig. 9B View FIGURE 9 ), and eyes relatively large (EI 22–24, mean 24). Majors: Frontal carinae strongly developed and laterally extended, obscuring part of antennal scrobe ( Fig. 9C View FIGURE 9 ). Seychelles............................ P. braueri Forel View in CoL

8b. Minors: Either face mostly punctate to strongly punctate, sometimes overlain with faint rugulae ( Fig. 9D View FIGURE 9 ), or face sculpture more reduced, then scape pilosity decumbent to subdecumbent ( Fig. 9E View FIGURE 9 ) and eyes slightly smaller ( P. dodo: EI 18–22, mean 21). Majors: Frontal carinae absent or short and inconspicuous, never laterally extended and obscuring part of antennal scrobe ( Fig. 9F View FIGURE 9 )............................................................................................. 9

9a. Minors: Postpetiole usually about as long as high (LPpI 91–115, mean 102) and pronotum laterally mostly smooth and shiny ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Majors: Posterior portion of face and of posterolateral lobes smooth and shiny, without rugae or punctures ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ). Mauritius.................................................................................. P. dodo

9b. Minors: Either postpetiole longer than high (LPpI 114–163) ( Fig. 10C View FIGURE 10 ) or pronotum laterally not mostly smooth and shiny ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ). Majors: Face and posterolateral lobes never partly smooth and shiny, but rugoreticulate and punctate to superficially punctate ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ).............................................................................. 10

10a. Minors: Postpetiole distinctly higher than long (LPpI 83–95) ( Fig. 11A View FIGURE 11 ) and on average 1.4 times wider than long (DpPI 125– 150) ( Fig. 11B View FIGURE 11 ). Majors: Head distinctly longer than wide (CI 88–93) ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ). ( Mauritius, Seychelles, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) widespread, probably introduced species........................................... P. parva Mayr View in CoL

10b. Minors: Postpetiole at least as long as high or longer (LPpI 114–163) ( Fig. 11D View FIGURE 11 ) and on average about as wide as long (DpPI 86–109) ( Fig. 11E View FIGURE 11 ). Majors: Head about as long as wide (CI 95–102) ( Fig. 11F View FIGURE 11 ).................................. 11

11a. Minors (major unknown): Head posteriorly superficially punctate to smooth, mesosoma sculpture reduced, mostly very faintly punctate ( Fig. 12B View FIGURE 12 ), sometimes overlain with superficial rugulae, scapes longer, on average 1.2 times longer than width of head (SI 117–122) and postpetiole significantly longer than wide (DPpI 86) ( Fig. 12B View FIGURE 12 ). Mayotte................... P. loki

11b. Minors: Head and majority of mesosoma both uniformly punctate to weakly punctate, promesonotum sometimes overlain with transverse rugulae ( Fig. 12A View FIGURE 12 ), scapes on average 1.0 to 1.1 times longer than width of head (SI 96–122), and postpetiole on average as long as wide (DPpI 88–109) ( Fig. 12A View FIGURE 12 ). Majors: Promesonotum dorsally with transverse rugulae, posterior process in profile weakly defined with inconspicuous to shallowly concave transverse groove, postpetiole in dorsal view with large lateral process.................................................................................. 12

12a. Minors: Mandibles and scapes relatively short (MDI 54–63, SI 96–106), postpetiole about 1.2 times longer than high (LPpI 114–120), standing hairs on mesosoma abundant ( Fig. 13A View FIGURE 13 ). Majors: Promesonotal process high in profile view, with weakly impressed transverse groove, propodeal spines relatively long and spinose (PSLI 14–17), postpetiole higher than long (LPpI 83–95), and standing hairs on mesosoma abundant, relatively flexuous ( Fig. 13B View FIGURE 13 ). Comoros Is.................. P. vulcan

12b. Minors: Mandibles and scapes slightly longer (MDI 60–73, SI 102–122), postpetiole about 1.4 times longer than high (LPpI 122–163), standing hairs on mesosoma comparatively scarce ( Fig. 13C View FIGURE 13 ). Majors: Promesonotal process lower, with a more concavely impressed groove, propodeal spines shorter and subtriangular (PSLI 10–14), postpetiole usually longer than high (LPpI 90–126), and standing hairs less abundant and less flexuous ( Fig. 13D View FIGURE 13 ). Comoros Is., Mayotte......... P. jonas Forel View in CoL

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Pheidole

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