Key to Pheidole roosevelti-group majors

This worker key is based on: Sarnat, E. M. 2008. A taxonomic revision of the Pheidole roosevelti-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Fiji. Zootaxa 1767:1-36.

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1

• Mesonotal process, in profile, truncated into a blunt angle without lamellate or acute posterior margin; propodeal spines simple, evenly tapering to a single straight acuminate point without becoming bifurcate or angulate apically; posterolateral lobes, in full face view, with distinct transverse rugae extending from median cleft to posterolateral corners; scapes short (SL 0.73–0.84, n = 9) . . . . . Pheidole simplispinosa

• Mesonotal process, in profile, with acute posterior angle or lamella; propodeal spines usually modified apically with bifurcate or angulate tip; posterolateral lobes, in full face view, variably sculptured but never with distinct transverse rugae extending from median cleft to posterolateral corners; scapes of variable length (SL 0.90–1.19, n = 35)

. . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

• Posterolateral lobes, in full face view, smooth and shining without rugae or carinae; median ocellus present and well developed; intercarinular spaces on head smooth and shining; postpetiole with anterior face and dorsum smooth and shining without rugulae; gaster with basal portion of first tergite smooth and shining . . . . . Pheidole colaensis

• Posterolateral lobes, in full face view, sculptured with rugae or carina; median ocellus present or absent; intercarinular spaces on head smooth and shining to foveolate; postpetiole with anterior face and dorsum smooth and shining to rugulose-foveolate; gaster with basal portion of first tergite smooth and shining to densely sculptured . . . . . 3

3

return to couplet #2

• Posterolateral lobes, in full face view, rugoreticulate, such that longitudinal rugae are intersected by transverse rugae; pronotum, in dorsal view, rugoreticulate, such that transverse rugae are often intersected by longitudinal rugae; sides of petiole, in posterior view, subparallel without laterally projecting processes . . . . . 4

• Posterolateral lobes, in full face view, carinate, such that longitudinal carinae are not intersected by transverse carinae; pronotum, in dorsal view, rugose, such that transverse rugae not intersected by longitudinal rugae; sides of petiole, in posterior view, emarginated with laterally projecting processes . . . . . 6

4

return to couplet #3

• Posterolateral lobes, in full face view, with rugoreticulum terminating before obtaining posterior margin; in dorsal view, length of median basigastral sculpturing immediately posterior to postpetiole attachment longer than length of postpetiole; head shorter (HL 1.95–2.04, n = 7) . . . . . Pheidole furcata

• Posterolateral lobes, in full face view, with rugoreticulum obtaining posterior margin; in dorsal view, length of median basigastral sculpturing immediately posterior to postpetiole attachment shorter than length of postpetiole; head longer (HL 2.06–2.38, n = 13) . . . . . 5

5

return to couplet #4

• Head, in full face view, with intercarinular spaces densely and distinctly foveolate; postpetiolar dorsum, in dorsal view, rugulose with foveolate interspaces; scapes shorter relative to head (SI 0.41–0.46, n =8) . . . . . Pheidole roosevelti

• Head, in full face view, with intercarinular spaces smooth and shining to weakly impressed, but never densely nor distinctly foveolate; postpetiolar dorsum, in dorsal view, smooth and shining; scapes longer relative to head (SI 0.48–0.53, n = 5) . . . . . Pheidole bula

6

return to couplet #3

• Propodeal spines, in profile, with dorsal edge as long as or longer than anterior edge; mesonotal process, in dorsal view, broad basally; petiole with posterior face smooth and shining; head wider, metafemur longer, scapes longer (HW 2.20–2.35, FL 1.59–1.66, SL 1.15–1.19, n = 3) . . . . . Pheidole pegasus

• Propodeal spines, in profile, with dorsal edge distinctly shorter than anterior edge; mesonotal process, in dorsal view, strongly attenuated basally; petiole with posterior face rugoreticulate; head narrower, metafemur shorter, scapes shorter (HW 2.05–2.12, FL 1.51–1.57, SL 1.09–1.12, n = 5) . . . . . Pheidole uncagena