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Pheidole cavigenis
| Pheidole cavigenis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. cavigenis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole cavigenis Wheeler, W.M., 1915
| |
According to Stefan Cover, who has collected intensively within the range of cavigenis, this species occurs in grassy gaps in juniper-oak-pinyon woodlands at mid-elevations. Nests are cryptic and seeds are sometimes found inside. Colonies appear to consist of no more than 200–300 individuals. (Wilson 2003)
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known from several collections in the Huachuca Mts; thence west to Sycamore Canyon in the Pajarito Mts., about 20 miles west of Nogales (Stefan Cover). A series in the Museum of Comparative Zoology from Bocoyna, Chihuahua, belongs to this species but with some differences; it may represent a geographical variant. (Wilson 2003)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 31.88617° to 27.85°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.
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
Worker
Minor
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0104913. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- cavigenis. Pheidole tepicana subsp. cavigenis Wheeler, W.M. 1915b: 403 (s.) U.S.A. Wilson, 2003: 567 (w.). Junior synonym of soritis: Gregg, 1959: 30. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 567.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the “pilifera complex” of the larger pilifera group; for a characterization of the complex, see under Pheidole pilifera. P. cavigenis is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.
Major: occiput and extensive dorsal surface anterior to the occiput rugoreticulate; a small patch of rugoreticulum is present just posterior to each antennal fossa; humerus very prominent and lobose in dorsal-oblique view; mesonotal convexity absent, but mesonotum descends abruptly to the metanotal groove; propodeal spines long and thin; postpetiole spinose.
Minor: almost all of dorsal head surface longitudinally carinulate; propodeal spine needle-shaped.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Major (Montezuma Pass, Arizona): HW 1.60, HL 1.86, SL 0.74, EL 0.22, PW 0.76.
Minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.66, SL 0.62, EL 0.12, PW 0.40.
COLOR Major: body light reddish brown, mandibles and gaster plain medium brown.
Minor: head and gaster medium brown, mesosoma and appendages light brown.
Figure. Upper: major. Lower: minor. ARIZONA: 11 km west-northwest of Montezuma Pass, Huachuca Mts., Cochise Co., 1660 m, col. Stefan Cover. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Museum of Comparative Zoology - as reported in Wilson (2003)
Etymology
L cavigenis, hollow cheek, significance unknown. (Wilson 2003)
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 567, fig. major, minor described, Raised to species: new status)
- Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E., Vásquez-Bolaños, M. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1): 9-36.
- Gregg, R. E. 1959 [1958]. Key to the species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the United States. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 66: 7-48 (page 30, Junior synonym of soritis)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1915b. Some additions to the North American ant-fauna. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 34: 389-421 (page 403, soldier described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Cole A. C., Jr. 1937. An annotated list of the ants of Arizona (Hymen.: Formicidae). [part]. Entomological News 48: 97-101.
- Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
- Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
- Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
- Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press