Pheidole indica

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Pheidole indica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Pheidole
Species group: fervens
Species: P. indica
Binomial name
Pheidole indica
Mayr, 1879

Pheidole indica casent0281665 p 1 high.jpg

Pheidole indica casent0281665 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms


Common Name
Indo-oozu-ari
Language: Japanese

Fischer and Fisher (2013) - Pheidole teneriffana (=P. indica) is an invasive species with collection records scattered over several continents and islands across the globe. Described from the Canary Islands and found widely distributed throughout the greater Mediterranean region, its native range and origin are unknown (Wilson 2003, Wetterer 2011). Probably introduced to the Malagasy region, it was described from Madagascar as P. voeltzkowii, only one year after the publication of the senior synonym. Morphologically, P. teneriffana can be grouped together with, and is possibly related to, Pheidole fervens, Pheidole oceanica and Pheidole sinaitica. In the New World, Pheidole teneriffana has been introduced to California (Martinez 1992, Snelling 1992), Cuba, Peru (Wilson 2003), and the West Indian islands (Wetterer 2011). It seems to be common in dry habitats (Wetterer 2011), especially along coasts and in urban areas (Collingwood et al. 1997, Gómez & Espalader 2006), and has been described as aggressive toward other ant species, locally abundant, and spreading in urban areas (Collingwood 1985, Gómez & Espalader 2006). In the Malagasy region P. teneriffana was collected on the Comoros, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and from coastal towns in Madagascar, usually from under stones, ground nests, or foraging on the ground or lower vegetation in urban or garden habitats at elevations between 2 and 296 m, on Mayotte in native littoral and secondary forest (7 m elevation). Recently in Saudi Arabia it was collected from soil, under stones, and foraging on the ground on a few farms at elevations between 570 and 1620 m.

In Japan, this species is found in rather dry habitats and is common in southern Kyushu. Nest entrances sometimes involve small mounds of sand or soil particles. Total worker/soldier numbers in colonies can run to almost 1,000 individuals (Yano, pers. comm.; Iida, pers. comm.). Worker recruitment patterns were reported by Magata & Yamane (1989), and division of labor in the worker caste by Yano & Yamane (1990). (Japanese Ant Image Database)

At a Glance • Highly invasive  

Identification

A member of the Pheidole fervens species group. Fischer and Fisher (2013) - Moderately small species (WL major 1.18–1.44 mm, WL minor 0.79–0.97 mm), minor workers with relatively long scapes and legs (SI minor 120–149, FI minor 134–170) and major workers with moderately long legs (FI major 73–89), both with a well-developed promesonotal process. Major with frontal carinae and antennal scrobe reaching posterior quarter of head, face with longitudinal rugae often very oblique posteriorly, curved toward posterolateral lobes, eyes moderately large (EI 13–16), submedian hypostomal teeth small, median process reduced and often very shallow, promesonotal process prominent and well developed, in profile metanotal groove shallow and dorsal propodeum usually level, postpetiole in dorsal view trapezoidal, often with rounded lateral corners, but sometimes with acute lateral dents, postpetiole between 1.9 and 2.5 times wider than petiole, postpetiolar ventral process reduced and very shallow. Minor head oval, posteriorly rounded, scapes and legs relatively long (SI 120–149, FI 134–170), with decumbent to subdecumbent pilosity, eyes relatively large (EI 25– 30), metanotal groove not or barely impressed in profile.

Japan

Similar to Pheidole megacephala, Pheidole fervens and Pheidole nodus. Pheidole indica can be distinguished from P. megacephala by the extent of posterior cephalic sculpturation in soldiers and the separately raised mesonotum in soldiers and workers; from P. fervens, by the dark-colored body, larger eyes and upwardly directed propodeal spines in soldiers and workers; and from P. nodus by the smaller postpetiole. (Japanese Ant Image Database)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

An invasive species that has been reported occurring in the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean area, the Malagasy region, California, Cuba, Peru, and West Indian islands.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 32.812778° to 20.92583°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Saint Helena, Saudi Arabia, Socotra Archipelago, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles.
Nearctic Region: United States.
Neotropical Region: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles, Guadeloupe, Peru.
Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India (type locality), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Palaearctic Region: Balearic Islands, Canary Islands (type locality), China, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iberian Peninsula, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malta, Oman, Republic of Korea, Spain, Türkiye.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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

Wilson (2003) - Evidently a native of North Africa and possibly also the Canary Islands. It has turned up in disturbed habitats in Cuba, Peru, and California, but as of this writing is evidently still sporadic and local. In 1989 Martinez (1992) found a population occupying about two hectares of Admiral Kidd Park, evidently consisting of a single continuous, polydomous colony. The separate nests contained large numbers of workers and multiple inseminated queens, as many as 23 in one instance. Nest sites included lawns and open ground, where nest entrances were surmounted by mounds of excavated soil; crevices of sidewalks and curbs; and the bases of trees. New nest sites were occupied by budding from occupied sites. The workers were aggressive toward other ant species; they preyed on insects and harvested seeds. By 1998, according to Gulmahamad and Martinez (1999), the population was extinct. It had been weakened by attempts to exterminate it and changes in the nest habitat, and given the coup de grâce by encroaching Argentine ants (Linepithema humile).

Regional Notes

Heterick (2009) - WA Australia: Currently only confirmed for the Fremantle area, but ants of similar appearance have been seen in Claremont (a Perth suburb) and the wheatbelt town of York. Unlike the case with most nests of Pheidole megacephala, this species has diurnally active workers. Pheidole indica had not previously been reported from Australia.

Espadaler (2007) - Canary Islands: A nest with winged males was detected on cracks in the pavement. Ants rushed out after a small air blow with the aspirator.

Association with Other Organisms

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Hemiptera

  • This species is a mutualist for the aphid Aphis craccivora (a trophobiont) (Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019) (as Pheidole teneriffana).
  • This species is a mutualist for the aphid Aphis umbrella (a trophobiont) (Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019) (as Pheidole teneriffana).

Fungi

This species is a host for the fungus Myrmicinosporidium durum (a pathogen) in Japan (Hosoishi et al., 2020).

Castes

  • Liu, C. et al. 2020. Ants of the Hengduan Mountains, Figure 91, Pheidole indica.

Minor

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole teneriffana casent0005778 head 1.jpgPheidole teneriffana casent0005778 profile 1.jpgPheidole teneriffana casent0005778 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole teneriffana casent0005778 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0005778. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by UCDC, Davis, CA, USA.

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0101327 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101327 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101327 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101327 label 1.jpg
Syntype of Pheidole voeltzkowiiWorker. Specimen code casent0101327. Photographer Nick Olgeirson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0104605 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0104605 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0104605 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0104605 label 1.jpg
Type of Pheidole voeltzkowiiWorker. Specimen code casent0104605. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ZMHB, Berlin, Germany.
Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0173013 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0173013 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0173013 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0173013 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0173013. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Pheidole indica casent0281666 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0281666 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0281666 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0281666 l 1 high.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0281666. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.
Pheidole indica casent0907898 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907898 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907898 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907898 l 1 high.jpg
Paralectotype of Pheidole indica himalayanaWorker. Specimen code casent0907898. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole indica casent0907900 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907900 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907900 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907900 l 1 high.jpg
Paralectotype of Pheidole indica rotschanaWorker. Specimen code casent0907900. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole indica casent0907916 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907916 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907916 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907916 l 1 high.jpg
Type of unavailable quadrinomial: Pheidole javana jubilans formosaeWorker. Specimen code casent0907916. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0101745 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101745 head 2.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101745 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101745 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101745 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0101745. Photographer Michele Esposito, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Major

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0101326 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101326 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101326 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101326 label 1.jpg
Syntype of Pheidole voeltzkowiiWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0101326. Photographer Nick Olgeirson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0101564 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101564 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101564 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101564 label 1.jpg
Syntype of Pheidole voeltzkowiiWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0101564. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0104604 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0104604 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0104604 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0104604 label 1.jpg
Type of Pheidole voeltzkowiiWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0104604. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ZMHB, Berlin, Germany.
Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0173012 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0173012 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0173012 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0173012 label 1.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0173012. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Pheidole indica casent0906612 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0906612 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0906612 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0906612 l 1 high.jpg
Paralectotype of Pheidole indicaWorker. Specimen code casent0906612. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMW, Vienna, Austria.
Pheidole indica casent0906613 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0906613 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0906613 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0906613 l 1 high.jpg
Paralectotype of Pheidole indicaWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0906613. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMW, Vienna, Austria.
Pheidole indica casent0907897 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907897 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907897 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907897 l 1 high.jpg
Lectotype of Pheidole indica himalayanaWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0907897. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole indica casent0907899 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907899 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907899 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907899 l 1 high.jpg
Lectotype of Pheidole indica rotschanaWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0907899. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole indica casent0907915 h 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907915 p 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907915 d 1 high.jpgPheidole indica casent0907915 l 1 high.jpg
Type of unavailable quadrinomial: Pheidole javana jubilans formosaeWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0907915. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pheidole teneriffana casent0005777 head 1.jpgPheidole teneriffana casent0005777 profile 1.jpgPheidole teneriffana casent0005777 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole teneriffana casent0005777 label 1.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0005777. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by UCDC, Davis, CA, USA.

Male

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole voeltzkowii casent0101325 head 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101325 profile 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101325 dorsal 1.jpgPheidole voeltzkowii casent0101325 label 1.jpg
Syntype of Pheidole voeltzkowiiMale (alate). Specimen code casent0101325. Photographer Nick Olgeirson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Nomenclature

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

  • indica. Pheidole indica Mayr, 1879: 679 (s.w.q.) INDIA. Forel, 1902c: 199 (m.); Imai, Baroni Urbani, et al. 1984: 6 (k.). Senior synonym of himalayana, rotschana, striativentris and material of the unavailable name formosae referred here: Eguchi, 2004: 198. See also: Bingham, 1903: 263; Menozzi, 1939a: 298; Ogata, 1982: 196.
  • striativentris. Pheidole striativentris Mayr, 1879: 678 (s.) INDIA. Forel, 1902c: 195 (w.q.). Junior synonym of indica: Eguchi, 2004: 199.
  • himalayana. Pheidole indica r. himalayana Forel, 1902c: 185 (s.), 199 (w.) INDIA. [Also described as new by Forel, 1902f: 546.] Raised to species: Bingham, 1903: 265. Subspecies of indica: Emery, 1921f: 91; Menozzi, 1939a: 298; Pisarski, 1967: 385. Junior synonym of indica: Eguchi, 2004: 198.
  • rotschana. Pheidole indica r. rotschana Forel, 1902c: 185 (s.), 199 (w.m.) INDIA. Imai, Baroni Urbani, et al. 1984: 6 (k.). [Also described as new by Forel, 1902f: 546.] Raised to species: Bingham, 1903: 264. Subspecies of indica: Forel, 1909e: 394; Forel, 1911i: 222. Junior synonym of indica: Eguchi, 2004: 199.
  • teneriffana. Pheidole teneriffana Forel, 1893d: 465 (s.w.) SPAIN (Canary Is). [Also described as new by Forel, 1894a: 160.] Santschi, 1908: 521 (q.). Gómez & Espadaler, 2006: 229 (m.). Status as species: Santschi, 1908: 521; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 821; Wheeler, W.M. 1927g: 105; Aguayo, 1932: 219; Finzi, 1936: 164; Baroni Urbani, 1968b: 438; Baroni Urbani, 1971c: 73; Barquin Diez, 1981: 114; Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 428; Collingwood, 1985: 255; Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 271 (in key); Snelling, R.R. 1992b: 121; Mei, 1995: 762; Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 324; Wilson, 2003: 640 (redescription); Collingwood, et al. 2004: 478; Gómez & Espadaler, 2006: 229; Heterick, 2009: 169; Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 346 (redescription). Senior synonym of taina: Wilson, 2003: 640. Senior synonym of voeltzkowii: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 346. Junior synonym of indica: Sarnat, et al. 2015: 46.
  • taina. Pheidole teneriffana subsp. taina Aguayo, 1932: 219 (s.) CUBA. Junior synonym of teneriffana: Wilson, 2003: 640.
  • voeltzkowii. Pheidole voeltzkowii Forel, 1894e: 227 (s.w.m.) MADAGASCAR. Forel, 1897c: 207 (q.). Junior synonym of teneriffana: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 340.

Type Material

Tenerife, Canary Islands. Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Description

Wilson (2003) - DIAGNOSIS Major: unique in the possession of a broad, convex metanotum and a four-lobed mesosomal profile in dorsal-oblique view (2 on pronotum, one each on mesonotum and metanotum); also, presence of a weak antennal scrobe; carinulae cover all the dorsal head surface except for the frontal triangle and midclypeus; carinulae originating laterad to antennal scrobes circle outward and downward again to travel to the eye and behind it; postpetiole elliptical from above.

Minor: occiput slightly narrowed, no nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Major (Oriente, Cuba): HW 1.34, HL 1.34, SL 0.82, EL 0.20, PW 0.64. Minor (Oriente, Cuba): HW 0.62, HL 0.70, SL 0.74, EL 0.14, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major and minor: light yellowish brown, with head, mandibles, and gaster a slightly darker shade.

Fischer and Fisher (2013) - Major (n=14): HW 1.22–1.67 (1.47), HL 1.31–1.71 (1.51), SL 0.73– 0.84 (0.80), MDL 0.70–0.91 (0.82), EL 0.20–0.23 (0.22), WL 1.18–1.44 (1.28), PNH 0.43–0.66 (0.55), PNW 0.61–0.80 (0.70), MNH 0.76–0.99 (0.86), PDH 0.39–0.56 (0.45), PTL 0.36–0.45 (0.42), PPL 0.20–0.28 (0.25), PTH 0.24–0.30 (0.26), PPH 0.22–0.26 (0.24), PTW 0.16–0.22 (0.20), PPW 0.35–0.48 (0.42), PSL 0.17–0.24 (0.20), MFL 1.08–1.28 (1.18), MTL 0.66–0.95 (0.87), CI 93–101 (98), SI 49–62 (55), MDI 52–60 (56), EI 13–17 (15), FI 73–89 (80), PSLI 11–16 (14), LPpI 87–123 (104), DPpI 146–235 (172), PpWI 190–247 (213), PpLI 51–67 (59), PpHI 83–108 (90).

Head usually slightly longer than wide (CI 93–101), sides convex to strongly convex. Mandibles smooth and relatively long (MDI 52–60). Clypeus smooth, median carina inconspicuous or absent, usually two pairs of lateral carinae present. Frontal carinae well developed and reaching 3/4 of the way to posterior head margin, antennal scrobe conspicuous and weakly to superficially punctate. Frons longitudinally rugose, sides of head rugoreticulate, rugulae on posterolateral lobes variable, from straight longitudinal or longitudinal with scarce, short, reticulate rugulae in between, to obliquely curved toward posterolateral lobes, to transversal, interspaces smooth to superficially punctate; posterior head margin in dorsal view usually smooth to superficially sculptured. Scape moderately long (SI 49–62) with decumbent to subdecumbent pilosity and usually three erect longer hairs on outer edge. Eyes relatively large (EI 13–17). Submedian hypostomal teeth small to medium-sized, median process small to inconspicuous. Promesonotum in profile high-domed, convex, promesonotal process prominently produced, with deeply concave to angulate transverse groove, set almost at a right angle toward posterior declivity. Dorsum of promesonotum transversely rugulose, lateropronotum weakly rugulose to largely smooth, sides of mesonotum and propodeum densely punctate. Metanotal groove impressed to very shallow in profile, cross-ribs reduced to inconspicuous. Dorsum of propodeum weakly to superficially sculptured, in profile usually straight, not sloped toward spines, and about as long as posterior declivity. Propodeal spines acute, moderately short, slightly shorter than distance between their bases (PSI 11–16). Metatibia moderately long (FI 73–89), pilosity on inner edge decumbent, on outer edge subdecumbent. Postpetiole on average 1.7 times wider than long (DPpI 146–235) and 2.1 times wider than petiole (PpWI 190–247), sides in dorsal view roundly convex, or subangulate or with small denticle laterally, ventral process very small or inconspicuous. Dorsum of waist segments partly smooth, partly superficially punctate, remainder punctate. Gaster smooth to micropunctate. Standing hairs on mesosoma moderately scarce, yellowish, of short to moderate length, acute, with more abundant shorter decumbent pilosity. Color light to darker reddish brown, with dark brown to blackish gaster.

Minor (n=16): HW 0.50–0.65 (0.58), HL 0.60–0.74 (0.68), SL 0.64– 0.81 (0.74), MDL 0.35–0.46 (0.42), EL 0.14–0.17 (0.16), WL 0.79–0.97 (0.88), PNH 0.27–0.33 (0.30), PNW 0.31–0.42 (0.38), MNH 0.50–0.62 (0.58), PDH 0.25–0.31 (0.28), PTL 0.23–0.29 (0.26), PPL 0.15–0.18 (0.16), PTH 0.15–0.18 (0.16), PPH 0.13–0.16 (0.15), PTW 0.10–0.12 (0.11), PPW 0.19–0.26 (0.22), PSL 0.08–0.10 (0.09), MFL 0.71–0.95 (0.85), MTL 0.53–0.75 (0.66), CI 72–88 (85), SI 120–149 (129), MDI 66–83 (72), EI 25– 30 (28), FI 134–170 (147), PSLI 14–19 (16), LPpI 100–124 (112), DPpI 112–160 (133), PpWI 177–236 (199), PpLI 58–70 (63), PpHI 81–100 (94).

Head shape oval, distinctly longer than wide (CI 72–88), sides strongly convex, posterior head margin rounded and occipital carina conspicuous in full-face view. Mandibles moderately long (MDI 66–83), weakly longitudinally rugulose. Clypeus smooth, sometimes with short median and lateral carinae present. Face smooth, except for concentric rugulae around antennal insertion and usually two malar carinae reaching posterior eye level. Scapes distinctly longer than head (SI 120–149), with decumbent to subdecumbent pilosity and longer suberect hairs along outer edge. Pronotum in profile flatly convex, posterior promesonotal process well developed, angulate, and prominently produced. Metanotal groove not or barely impressed, with weak to inconspicuous cross-ribs. Propodeum in profile about as long as high or slightly longer with highest point immediately behind metanotal groove, declining smoothly toward spines. Propodeal spines short-triangular and acute, much shorter than distance between their bases (PSLI 14–19). Promesonotum largely smooth, except for superficial punctures anteriorly near the neck, remainder of mesosoma punctate to weakly punctate, often with scattered superficially sculptured to smooth areas. Metafemur relatively long (FI 134–170), metatibia pilosity mostly decumbent with longer suberect hairs along outer edge. Postpetiole in profile without ventral process, on average 1.1 times longer than high (LPpI 100–124), and on average 2 times wider and significantly shorter than petiole (PpWI 177–236, PpLI 58–70). Dorsum of petiole and postpetiole mostly smooth, rest weakly to superficially punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Standing hairs moderately scarce, short to moderately long, thin, and acute, suberect, some hairs subapically branched. Short decumbent to subdecumbent pilosity comparatively scarce. Color reddish to darker brown, with significantly darker head and gaster.


Pheidole teneriffana Wilson 2003.jpg

Wilson 2003. Upper: major. Lower: minor. CUBA: Hotel Telegrafo, Holguin, Oriente (lectotype and paralectotype of P. teneriffana subsp. taina Aguayo). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Karyotype

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • 2n = 20, karyotype = 20M (India) (Imai et al., 1984) (as Pheidole rotschana).
  • 2n = 20, karyotype = 20M (India) (Imai et al., 1984) (as Pheidole rotschana).

Etymology

Named after the place of origin of the types. (Wilson 2003)

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Azuma, S. and M. Kinjo. 1987. Family Formicidae, In Checklist of the insects of Okinawa. The Biological Society of Okinawa, Nishihara. Pages 310-312.
  • Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
  • Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, and A. Kaur. 2009. Seasonal patterns of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Punjab Shivalik. Halteres 1(1): 36-47.
  • Bharti H., and A. Gill. 2011. SEM studies on immature stages of Pheidole indica Mayr, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India. Halteres 3: 38-44.
  • Bhoje P. M., K. Shilpa, and T. V. Sathe. 2014. Diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, India. Uttar Pradesh J. Zool. 34(1): 23-25.
  • Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
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