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Pheidole alpestris
| Pheidole alpestris | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. alpestris |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole alpestris Wilson, 2003
| |
Two colonies of the types were taken by Ward under a stone in Baccharis scrub, at roadside. (Wilson 2003)
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Only known from the type locality.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -0.25° to -0.25°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador (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.
- alpestris. Pheidole alpestris Wilson, 2003: 166, figs. (s.w.) ECUADOR.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
A small, brown member of the diligens group distinguished in both major and minor by the low mesonotal convexity, shallow metanotal depression in side view, and hence a more cylindrical form of the mesosoma overall in side view than is usual for Pheidole; a small convexity atop the metanotal depression in side view; large, robust propodeal spines; and dense erect to suberect pilosity over the entire body; pubescence absent.
Major: a secondary convexity on the pronotum and a small, angular subpostpetiolar process evident in side view.
Minor: ventral profile of head capsule flat in side view. Very close to, and possibly synonymous with, Pheidole cameroni, but distinguished by, among other traits, much denser pilosity and the absence of carinulae mesad to the eye in the major.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.02, HL 1.02, SL 0.78, EL 0.20, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.62, SL 0.44, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.
COLOR Major: concolorous medium brown.
Minor: concolorous light brown.
Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
ECUADOR: 6 km southeast of Pifo, Pichincha, 0°15'S 78°18'W, 2900 m, col. Philip S. Ward. Museum of Comparative Zoology
Etymology
L alpestris, of high mountains.
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 166, fig. major, minor described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Donoso D. A., F. Salazar, F. Maza, R. E. Cárdenas, and O. Dangles. 2009. Diversity and distribution of type specimens deposited in the Invertebrate section of the Museum of Zoology QCAZ, Quito, Ecuador. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 45(4): 437-454.
- Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.