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Pheidole ajaxigibba
| Pheidole ajaxigibba | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. ajaxigibba |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole ajaxigibba Longino, 2019
| |
This species occurs in lowland rain forest of Costa Rica. A nest was collected in dead wood, in a dead horizontal tree trunk about 1 m above the ground. Minor workers have been collected in beating samples from low vegetation and in a Malaise trap.
Identification
Longino (2019) - Minor: face smooth and shining; head tapered posteriorly to narrow neck and strongly developed occipital carina; promesonotal groove deep and broad; mesonotum strongly protruding in lateral view; pronotum smooth and shining; katepisternum with faint foveolation and strong longitudinal rugulae; propodeal spines long, thin, about as long as posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; abundant erect setae on mesosomal and gastral dorsum, tibiae; color yellow orange. Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, in form of small, inconspicuous denticles; scape base terete; face with foveolation overlain with reticulate rugulae throughout, these becoming more longitudinally oriented posteriorly; propodeal spines about two thirds length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum sericeous/striolate on anterior two thirds, fading to smooth and shiny posteriorly; face and sides of head covered with dense, decumbent, somewhat silky pubescence; abundant erect setae on mesosomal and gastral dorsum, tibiae.
Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.65, HL 0.89, SL 1.29, EL 0.15, WL 1.22, PSL 0.23, PTW 0.12, PPW 0.20, CI 73, SI 197, PSLI 35, PPI 161 (n=4).
Measurements, major worker: HW 1.38, HL 1.43, SL 1.23, EL 0.21, WL 1.57, PSL 0.24, PTW 0.23, PPW 0.37, CI 96, SI 89, PSLI 18, PPI 161 (n=4).
This species and Pheidole ajax are similar. Pheidole ajaxigibba differs in the much more produced mesonotum and the bright yellow color. It is allopatric with P. ajax, the two appearing to be complementary forms on the two sides of Costa Rica.
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 8.48067° to 8.48067°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (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
Worker
Minor
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Paratype. Worker (minor). Specimen code CASENT0638167. Photographer J. Longino, uploaded by University of Utah. | Owned by MCZC. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- ajaxigibba. Pheidole ajaxigibba Longino, 2019: 21, fig. 51 (w.) COSTA RICA.
Type Material
- HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Costa Rica, Puntarenas: Sirena, Corcovado NP, 8.48067 -83.58885 ±1 km, 25 m, 29-Jun-2013, rainforest, nest in dead wood (J. Longino, JTL8286.1) [MUCR, unique specimen identifier CASENT0638172].
- PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [CAS, DZUP, MCZC, USNM].
Description
see the identification section above
Etymology
Similar to P. ajax but with more pronounced mesonotum.
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Longino J. T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American wet forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1-126