Pheidole comosa

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Pheidole comosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Pheidole
Species group: fervens
Species: P. comosa
Binomial name
Pheidole comosa
Salata & Fisher, 2021

The species was collected between 760–1300 m in elevation, in montane rainforest and tropical dry forest. Nest were located under stones, under rootmat, and in rotten log. Worker were collected from sifted litter.

Identification

A member of the Pheidole fervens species group. Pheidole comosa is the most distinct member of the fervens group. The species is parapatric with Pheidole arivo and differ from it, and all remaining members of the group, by majors with dense, long and suberect to erect pilosity on the margins of head, and costulate to rugocostulate antennal scrobe with distinctly rugopunctate interspaces. Its minors are the only ones within the group with distinctly punctate head.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • comosa. Pheidole comosa Salata & Fisher, 2021: 14, figs. 2C, 3C, 4C, 4J, 5C, 5J, 8A–8F (w.s.) MADAGASCAR.

Type Material

  • HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Anja Reserve, -21.85241 46.84579, 990 m, 14-Dec-2010, Degaded forest below granite out crop, under stone, B. L. Fisher et al. leg., BLF25953, CASENT0923278 (California Academy of Sciences).
  • PARATYPES: 1w., the same data as holotype, CASENT0208811 (California Academy of Sciences); 2w., 1s., Anja Reserve, -21.85241 46.84579, 990 m, 14-Dec-2010, Degaded forest below granite out crop, under rootmat, litter on rock, B. L. Fisher et al. leg., BLF25938 (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève, PBZT).

Description

References