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Pheidole marcidula
| Pheidole marcidula | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. marcidula |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole marcidula Wheeler, W.M., 1908
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P. marcidula is evidently a rare species. Wheeler (1908) found one colony, nesting beneath a stone at Barton Creek, Texas. In Hudspeth County, Texas, Moody and Francke (1982) found a single colony at 1300 m, nesting in open sandy loam soil. (Wilson 2003)
Identification
The minor worker of this species is easily recognized by the clavate or spatulate hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma. The scapes of the minor extend about 1 funicular segment past the posterior lateral corner, the dorsum of the head is nearly completely smooth and glossy, the dorsum and sides of the pronotum are smooth and glossy, the remainder of the mesosoma is punctate, the propodeal spines are well-developed and somewhat curved upwards. The major is small, about 2.5-mm total length. The anterior 1/2 - 2/3 of the head is striate, the posterior part is smooth and glossy. The dorsum of the pronotum is smooth and glossy, the side of the pronotum is punctate and weakly shining, and the remainder of the mesosoma is punctate, except for parts of the mesopleuron, which are smooth and shiny. The propodeal spines are well developed, but thickened. The lateral connules on the postpetiole are not developed. Most hairs on the mesosoma are blunt-tipped, with a few weakly spatulate, but not noticeably so. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)
Also see the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known only from central and western Texas. (Wilson 2003)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 34.16122222° to 29.24768°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: 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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| Worker. Specimen code casent0172966. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA. |
   
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Major
Images from AntWeb
  
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| Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0172967. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
  
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| Specimen code casent0172968. . | |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- marcidula. Pheidole marcidula Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 457 (s.w.) U.S.A. See also: Wilson, 2003: 584.
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 A member of the “bicarinata complex” of the larger pilifera group, comprising Pheidole agricola, Pheidole aurea, Pheidole barbata, Pheidole bicarinata (including Pheidole vinelandica), Pheidole centeotl, Pheidole cerebrosior, Pheidole defecta, Pheidole gilvescens, Pheidole macclendoni, Pheidole macrops, Pheidole marcidula, Pheidole paiute, Pheidole pinealis, Pheidole xerophila, Pheidole yaqui and Pheidole yucatana, which complex is characterized by the large to very large, forward-set eyes in both castes; and, in the major, by the occipital lobes lacking any sculpturing (except in aurea); the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally angular (cornulate in cerebrosior).
P. marcidula is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.
Major: clavate hairs occasional on mesosoma, with other ordinary pilosity sparse; apex of petiolar node in side view pointed; postpetiolar node from above laterally subangulate.
Minor: promesonotal dorsal profile lined with evenly spaced pairs of clavate hairs.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Major (Sierra Blanca, Texas): HW 0.92, HL 1.22, SL 0.56, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.
Syntype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.42, EL 0.12, PW 0.28.
COLOR Major: overall yellow, with gaster and legs in lighter shade than rest of body.
Minor: concolorous pale yellow.
Figure. Upper: major. TEXAS: 5 km south of Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth Co. (O. F. Francke and J. V. Moody). Lower: syntype, minor. TEXAS: Barton Creek, Austin (William M. Wheeler). Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Barton Creek, Texas, American Museum of Natural History and Museum of Comparative Zoology - as reported in Wilson (2003)
Etymology
L marcidula, little and weak, or wasted, allusion unknown. (Wilson 2003)
References
- Mackay, W. P. and E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY.
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 584, fig. major, minor described)
- Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E., Vásquez-Bolaños, M. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1): 9-36.
- Moody, J. V., Francke, O. F. 1982. The ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of western Texas, Part 1: Subfamily Myrmicinae. Grad. Stud. Tex. Tech Univ. 27: 1–80.
- Wheeler, W. M. 1908h. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 24: 399-485 (page 457, soldier, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
- Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
- Hess C. G. 1958. The ants of Dallas County, Texas, and their nesting sites; with particular reference to soil texture as an ecological factor. Field and Laboratory 26: 3-72.
- Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
- Moody J. V., and O. F. Francke. 1982. The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Western Texas Part 1: Subfamily Myrmicinae. Graduate Studies Texas Tech University 27: 80 pp.
- O'Keefe S. T., J. L. Cook, T. Dudek, D. F. Wunneburger, M. D. Guzman, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. 2000. The Distribution of Texas Ants. The Southwestern Entomologist 22: 1-92.
- Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
- Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 399-485.
- Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1985. A checklist of Texas ants. Prairie Naturalist 17:49-64.
- Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press