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Pheidole aciculata
| Pheidole aciculata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. aciculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole aciculata Wilson, 2003 | |
The single colony reported by Stefan Cover (collection notes) was in terra firme forest, nesting in clayey soil with a small crater. (Wilson 2003)
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -10.06666667° to -12.497473°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Peru (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- aciculata. Pheidole aciculata Wilson, 2003: 164, figs. (s.w.) PERU.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
A unique member of the diligens group.
Major: propodeal spines exceptionally thin, sharp, needle-like; head seen from the side forming a relatively thin ellipsoid and in full face view a symmetrical oval; petiolar node from sides acute at apex, and from behind with deeply concave dorsal border and angular corners; carinulae limited to eye level and forward on head, and every other part of the head and body almost entirely smooth and shiny.
Minor: propodeal spine very thin, acute, and needle-like; most of the head and body smooth and shiny; occiput narrowed and with a nuchal collar.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.36, HL 1.58, SL 1.06, EL 0.20, PW 0.72. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.80, SL 1.06, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.
COLOR Major: overall light reddish brown, darkening (tending to medium reddish brown) on rear half of head, dorsal surface of promesonotum, and gaster.
Minor: body medium brown, tending to yellowish brown on mesopleuron and sides of petiole and postpetiole; appendages light brownish yellow.
Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Museum of Comparative Zoology PERU: Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios. col. Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin.
Etymology
L aciculata, with a small needle, referring to the needle-like propodeal spines.
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 164, fig. major, minor described )
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bezdeckova K., P. Bedecka, and I. Machar. 2015. A checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Peru. Zootaxa 4020 (1): 101–133.
- Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.