Pheidole marmor

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Pheidole marmor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Pheidole
Species: P. marmor
Binomial name
Pheidole marmor
Longino, 2019

Pheidole marmor CASENT0646377 p.jpg

Pheidole marmor CASENT0646377 d.jpg

Paratype Labels

This species is known from one Winkler sample of sifted litter and rotten wood, in a mid-elevation mesic pine-oak forest. Numerous minor workers, major workers, and two dealate queens occurred in the sample.

Identification

Minor: face and entire mesosoma uniformly foveolate; promesonotal groove present, distinctly impressed; propodeal spines short, one quarter to one third length of posterior face of propodeum; gaster shagreened on anterior half, smooth and shining posteriorly; mesosomal dorsum with sparse stiff setae, tibia lacking erect setae or with one or two erect setae, gastral dorsum lacking appressed pubescence, and with no to sparse erect setae; color dark red brown.

Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, acicular; scape base terete; face uniformly foveolate, overlain with variably developed irregular rugulae laterally, rugulae strongest between eye and antennal fossa, fading posteriorly; promesonotal groove impressed; propodeal spines about one third length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum shagreened on anterior half, smooth and shining posteriorly; pilosity pattern similar to minor worker, except with additional sparse, short, fully appressed setae on gastral dorsum; color dark red brown.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.47, HL 0.58, SL 0.69, EL 0.12, WL 0.73, PSL 0.04, PTW 0.13, PPW 0.15, CI 81, SI 148, PSLI 9, PPI 118 (n=1).

Measurements, major worker: HW 0.78, HL 0.86, SL 0.69, EL 0.15, WL 0.86, PSL 0.07, PTW 0.16, PPW 0.22, CI 91, SI 89, PSLI 9, PPI 133 (n=1).

Measurements, queen: HW 0.95, HL 0.88, SL 0.82, EL 0.30, WL 1.52, PSL 0.10, PTW 0.33, PPW 0.46, CI 108, SI 86, PSLI 11, PPI 139 (n=1).

This species is relatively distinctive with respect to measurements. In appearance it is like a small version of Pheidole pugnax.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Guatemala (type locality).

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Castes

Worker

Minor

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole marmor CASENT0646373 h.jpgPheidole marmor CASENT0646373 p.jpgPheidole marmor CASENT0646373 d.jpgPheidole marmor CASENT0646373 l.jpg
Paratype Minor. Specimen code CASENT0646373. Photographer Michele Esposito.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole marmor JTLC000009849 h.jpgPheidole marmor JTLC000009849 p.jpgPheidole marmor JTLC000009849 d.jpgPheidole marmor JTLC000009849 l.jpg
Paratype Queen. Specimen code JTLC000009849. Photographer Michele Esposito.

Nomenclature

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

  • marmor. Pheidole marmor Longino, 2019: 46, fig. 18 (w.q.) GUATEMALA.

Type Material

  • HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Guatemala, Zacapa: 8.5km NE Tuculután, 15.05872 -89.67638 ±50 m, 1100 m, 6-Jul-2007, pine oak forest, ex sifted leaf litter (J. Longino, JTL6016-s) [MCZC, unique specimen identifier JTLC000009834].
  • PARATYPES: major, minor worker, queen: same data as holotype [CAS, DZUP, JTLC, MCZC, USNM, UVGC].

Description

Etymology

In reference to the marble mines that were near the type locality.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Longino J. T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American wet forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1-126