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Pheidole heterothrix
| Pheidole heterothrix | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. heterothrix |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole heterothrix Santschi, 1923
| |
| Synonyms | |
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One series, collected by W. L. Brown at Horco Molle, Tucumán, was found at 900–1150 m in myrtaceous forest. (Wilson 2003)
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
In addition to the types, from Villaguay, Entre Rios, Argentina, I have seen series from the Argentine provinces of La Pampa, Misiones, and Tucumán. (Wilson 2003)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -27.331° to -27.331°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina (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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| Syntype of Pheidole heterothrix. Worker. Specimen code casent0913376. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- heterothrix. Pheidole obtusopilosa st. heterothrix Santschi, 1923d: 59 (s.w.) ARGENTINA. Raised to species and senior synonym of gavrilovi: Wilson, 2003: 436.
- gavrilovi. Pheidole gavrilovi Kusnezov, 1952b: 80 (s.w.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of heterothrix: Wilson, 2003: 436.
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 Similar to Pheidole obtusopilosa in some traits but distinguished from it and other Pheidole species as follows.
Major: patch of rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa on each side; entire remainder of dorsal surface of head, including occiput, carinulate; very faint antennal scrobe present; promesonotal profile smoothly rounded; mesonotal convexity low but with distinct anterior and posterior declivities; all of pronotum carinulate; humeri rugoreticulate; pilosity dense and short; postpetiole from above conulate.
Minor: humerus subangulate; propodeal spines robust, moderately long, and directed backward; all of body except gaster foveolate.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major (heterothrix, not “gavrilovi”): HW 1.12, HL 1.16, SL 0.54, EL 0.18, PW 0.62.
Paralectotype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.54, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.
COLOR Major: all of body light reddish brown except gaster, which is medium reddish brown.
Minor: body dark reddish brown, appendages medium reddish brown.
Figure. Upper: major (syntype of synonymous gavrilovi). Lower: minor (syntype of synonymous gavrilovi). Upper outlines of minor mesosoma and occiput are those of heterothrix syntype. ARGENTINA: Loreto, Misiones, Argentina. Compared with lectotype and paralectotype of heterothrix. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Villaguay, Entre Rios, Argentina. Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel - as reported in Wilson (2003)
Etymology
Gr heterothrix, different hair (from that of obtusopilosa). (Wilson 2003)
References
- Santschi, F. 1923d. Pheidole et quelques autres fourmis néotropiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 63: 45-69 (page 59, soldier, worker described)
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 436, fig. major, minor described, Raised to species: new status)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.
- Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
- Kusnezov N. 1952. El género Pheidole en la Argentina (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Acta Zoologica Lilloana 12: 5-88.
- Kusnezov N. 1978. Hormigas argentinas: clave para su identificación. Miscelánea. Instituto Miguel Lillo 61:1-147 + 28 pl.
- Vittar, F. 2008. Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la Mesopotamia Argentina. INSUGEO Miscelania 17(2):447-466