.jpg){kind=logo}
Pheidole deceptrix
| Pheidole deceptrix | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. deceptrix |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole deceptrix Forel, 1899
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pheidole deceptrix is a montane specialist, ocurring in cloud forest habitats from 1300–2750m elevation. Nests are in the soil and under stones. Foragers, including major workers, come to baits on the forest floor, and workers are collected in Berlese and Winkler samples. Alate queens were collected 11 July 2007, at Cerro Huitepec in Chiapas. Males remain unknown. (Longino 2009)
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 19.331389° to 14.55061798°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Belize, Guatemala (type locality), Honduras, 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. |
|
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. |
|
Biology
Castes
Worker
Minor
Images from AntWeb
   
| |
| Syntype minor Pheidole deceptrix. Worker. Specimen code jtlc000015320. Photographer John T. Longino, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- deceptrix. Pheidole deceptrix Forel, 1899c: 66, pl. 3, fig. 20 (s.) GUATEMALA. Senior synonym of chiapasana, variceps: Longino, 2009: 25. See also: Wilson, 2003: 679.
- chiapasana. Pheidole chiapasana Wilson, 2003: 273, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of deceptrix: Longino, 2009: 25.
- variceps. Pheidole variceps Wilson, 2003: 775, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of deceptrix: Longino, 2009: 25.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Longino (2009) - The type major worker of P. deceptrix has the median and rear portion of the face with shallow foveolate sculpture overlain with sparse rugulae, and the postpetiole in dorsal view is trapezoidal. The associated minor worker has the face and mesosoma uniformly and densely foveolate. The type major worker of P. variceps has similar sculpture on the face but it fades posteriorly, leaving the vertex lobes smooth and shiny. The postpetiole in dorsal view is more transverse, with more acutely angulate sides. The minor worker has the face and mesosoma with a mix of smooth shiny areas and patches of faint foveolate sculpture. However, multiple collections from additional localities show continuous variation between these two forms. The variation is geographically structured, such that multiple collections from the same site show little variation compared to differences among sites. I interpret this as one polytypic species with slightly different forms in different mountain ranges.
Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A medium-sized, brown species of uncertain affinities, distinguished as follows.
Major: head somewhat elongate, with a deep occipital cleft and subangulate comers, as illustrated, and dorsal surface longitudinally carinulate and foveolate except for occipital lobes, frontal triangle, and mid-clypeus; rugoreticulum extends from eye to antennal fossa on each side of head; all of mesosoma and sides of waist foveolate and opaque; propodeal spines thin; postpetiole seen from above elliptical and with angulate sides.
Minor: occiput not narrowed, yet possesses nuchal collar; all of head except frontal triangle and mid-clypeus and all of mesosoma foveolate and opaque; humeri in dorsal-oblique view subangulate; propodeal spines thin.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.62, SL 0.80, EL 0.20, PW 0.66. Minor in type series: HW 0.64, HL 0.74, SL 0.76, EL 0.12, PW 0.42.
COLOR Major: concolorous medium brown except for funiculus, which is yellowish brown.
Minor: body medium brown, appendages light to yellowish brown.
Figure. Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: minor, not described by Forel but attached to lectotype major and evidently part of the type series. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Longino (2009):
Lectotype major worker (here designated, as labeled by Wilson 2003) and associated paralectotype minor worker: Guatemala, Baja Verapaz, Purulha (Champion) Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève (examined).
Pheidole chiapasana Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Mexico, Chiapas, 5km E Rayón, 17°13'N 92°58'W, 1700m, 23 Dec 1991 (P. S. Ward #11581-12) Museum of Comparative Zoology (examined).
Pheidole variceps Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Mexico, Chiapas, 6km SE San Cristobal de las Casas, 10 Aug 1978 (J. Rawlins) Museum of Comparative Zoology (examined).
Etymology
L deceptrix, deceiver, allusion unknown. (Wilson 2003)
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 679, fig. major, minor described)
- Forel, A. 1899e. Formicidae. [part]. Biol. Cent.-Am. Hym. 3: 57-80 (page 66, pl. 3, fig. 20 soldier described)
- Vázquez-Franco, C.M., Morrone, J.J. 2022. The genus Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Puebla, Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 93: e933820 (doi:10.22201/ib.20078706e.2022.93.3820).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
- Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
- 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