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Pheidole huarache
| Pheidole huarache | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. huarache |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole huarache Longino, 2019
| |
This species occurs in moist to seasonally dry habitats, often in second growth habitats. It is common at ground baits, and majors and minors are recruited. Workers are also found in Winkler samples of sifted litter and rotten wood.
Identification
Longino (2019) - Minor: face smooth and shining; head evenly rounded posteriorly; occipital carina thin; promesonotal groove present, distinctly impressed; lateral pronotum smooth and shiny; katepisternum uniformly foveate; propodeal spines about half length of posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; dorsal setae of mesosoma and gaster somewhat stiff and dark, sparse; tibiae with 0-2 erect setae; color dark brown.
Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, acicular; scape base subterete, narrower than apical portion; face with irregular rugulae between eye and antennal fossa, rest of face mostly smooth and shining, with variably developed faint etching on sides posterior to eye; propodeal spines about half length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum smooth and shining; side of head lacking erect setae; rest of pilosity pattern similar to minor worker.
Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.49, HL 0.54, SL 0.57, EL 0.13, WL 0.66, PSL 0.05, PTW 0.12, PPW 0.15, CI 91, SI 118, PSLI 10, PPI 131 (n=2).
Measurements, major worker: HW 0.78, HL 0.81, SL 0.56, EL 0.14, WL 0.78, PSL 0.07, PTW 0.15, PPW 0.20, CI 96, SI 73, PSLI 8, PPI 134 (n=2).
This species is like a small version of Pheidole leoncortesi, with similar dark setae. The measurements are similar to two species from Peru, Pheidole gagates and Pheidole machetula. Compared to P. gagates, the minor worker has more abundant and darker setae and the major worker has erect setae on the sides of the head. Compared to P. machetula, the setae are darker and the propodeal spines are longer (mean PSLI 10 vs. 3).
Distribution
Mexico (Veracruz) to Guatemala (Petén).
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 17.00227° to 16.99876°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guatemala (type locality), 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. |
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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 of Pheidole huarache Longino 2019. Worker. Specimen code CASENT0611594. Photographer M. Pierce, 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.
- huarache. Pheidole huarache Longino, 2019: 37, fig. 22 (w.) GUATEMALA.
Type Material
- HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Guatemala, Petén: Cerro Cahuí, 16.99876 -89.71038 ±206 m, 150 m, 24-May-2009, tropical moist forest, at bait (LLAMA, Ba-B-05-3-01-01) [MCZC, unique specimen identifier CASENT0611593].
- PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [DZUP, JTLC, MCZC]; same data except Ba-B-05-3-01-12 [CAS, USNM]; 17.00227 -89.71939 ±60 m, 305 m (Ba-B-05-4-04-06) [UVGC].
Description
see the identification section above
Etymology
From a pre-Columbian word for sandal. These ants were underfoot in the Tikal area, a major site of Mayan civilization.
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Longino J. T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American wet forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1-126