Pheidole megacephala

Pheidole megacephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Pheidole
Species group:	megacephala
Species:	P. megacephala
Binomial name
Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793) Specimen Label
Subspecies
Pheidole megacephala atrox Forel, 1913 Pheidole megacephala costauriensis Santschi, 1914 Pheidole megacephala duplex Santschi, 1937 Pheidole megacephala ilgii Forel, 1907 Pheidole megacephala impressifrons Wasmann, 1905 Pheidole megacephala melancholica Santschi, 1912 Pheidole megacephala nkomoana Forel, 1916 Pheidole megacephala rotundata Forel, 1894 Pheidole megacephala speculifrons Stitz, 1911 Pheidole megacephala talpa Gerstäcker, 1871
Synonyms
Atta testacea Smith, F., 1858 Formica edax Forskål, 1775 Myrmica agilis Smith, F., 1857 Myrmica laevigata Smith, F., 1855 Myrmica suspiciosa Smith, F., 1859 Myrmica trinodis Losana, 1834 Oecophthora perniciosa Gerstäcker, 1859 Oecophthora pusilla Heer, 1852 Pheidole janus Smith, F., 1858 Pheidole laevigata Mayr, 1862

Common Name
African Big-headed Ant
Language:	English
Bigheaded Ant
Language:	English
Tsuya-oozu-ari
Language:	Japanese

An aggressive species that can form large colonies. Fischer and Fisher (2013): Pheidole megacephala – commonly also known as the ‘African big-headed ant’ – is a globally distributed invasive ant species and can be found on almost every island in the Malagasy region. This species is considered one of the most problematic invasive ant species and has caused devastating environmental problems all over the world (Hoffmann et al. 1999, Hoffmann & Parr 2008, Wetterer 2012), and is among the 100 worst invasive species in the world (IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group). First described by Fabricius from the former ‘Ile de France’, called Mauritius today, the origins of this species remain unknown. Pheidole megacephala and the megacephala group are probably native to the Afrotropics (Wetterer 2012), although a Malagasy origin is also a possibility, as the whole group seems to be quite diverse in Madagascar.

In Japan, this species occurs on Okinawa Island and southwards in open land, sugar-cane fields and coastal barrens, nesting in the soil, often under stones or logs. Minato et al. (1990) observed hygienic behavior involving the heaping away from nests of bodies of dead colony members by this ant.

Photo Gallery

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  Multiple queens in a colony of Pheidole megacephala big-headed ants. St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa. Photo by Alex Wild.

Identification

Wilson (2003), in his description of the megacephala species group: The single species of this African complex known from the New World, megacephala, is a tropicopolitan tramp globally spread by human commerce. In the New World, it occurs spottily in disturbed habitats from southern Florida throughout the West Indies to Mexico, Central America, and South America as far as southern Brazil. Its affinities will be unknown until the African Pheidole fauna is better analyzed. If I were handed specimens and told they belonged to a species native to the New World, I would be inclined on the basis of superficial appearance to place megacephala in the tristis group--except for its possession of only 2 hypostomal teeth, unique postpetiole shape, and unicolonial, polygynous colony structure. A good formula for recognizing megacephala at a glance is: heart-shaped head, circular mesonotum, oval postpetiole.

Fischer and Fisher (2013) - Moderately small species (WL major 0.99–1.22 mm, WL minor 0.62–0.84 mm), with moderately short scapes (SI minor 114–122, major SI 47–58) and legs (FI minor 114–125, FI major 65–73), both workers subcastes with acute short-spinose propodeal spines, absent promesonotal process, and postpetiole with large convex ventral process, mesosoma with relatively few, usually stiff and often blunt or apically bifurcate standing hairs, scape pilosity subdecumbent to suberect, hind tibia pilosity on inner edge decumbent, along outer edge subdecumbent to suberect. Major head often heart shaped, with moderately deep posterior emargination, short-irregular longitudinal rugae anteriorly and sculpture absent from posterior 2/5 of head, except for two weak to superficial longitudinal rugulae medially, hypostomal margin without median process and very small to inconspicuous submedian teeth, promesonotum almost completely smooth and shiny, remainder of mesosoma weakly punctate, smooth or superficially sculptured spots usually present on both katepisternum and lateropropodeum, postpetiole on average 1.9 times wider than petiole (PpWI 171–210). Minor head shape usually ovoid and posterior head margin slightly compressed, head almost as wide as long (CI 86–92), face completely smooth and shiny, except for sometimes weakly developed concentric rugulae around antennal insertions, postpetiole on average 0.8 times as long as petiole (PpLI 70–91).

Malagasy Region

Morphologically, both the minor and major workers of P. megacephala display relatively few diagnostic characters to set them apart from other members of the group. On the Comoros P. megacephala also occurs together with the species Pheidole spinosa and Pheidole megatron. The minor workers of the latter two species are very similar in morphometric measurements and external morphology to those of P. megacephala, and single major workers possess few clearly defined features that can be used for definite species identifications (also see the identification section of these other two species). Because P. megacephala is a morphologically variable species, series with several major workers are much more helpful for positive identifications. Especially the majors of P. megacephala and P. spinosa are in many characters almost identical and both vary significantly in their development of the typically heart-shaped head. The most apparent and stable differences, however, seem to be the amount of sculpture on the posterior half of the major worker’s head, the type and overall quantity of standing hairs on the meso- and metasoma, as well as the shape of the postpetiolar ventral processes. Further minor differences in the morphologies of P. spinosa suggest ongoing differentiation between populations on the islands where it occurs.

Keys including this Species

• Key to the Pheidole of North Vietnam
• Key to Micronesian Ants
• Key to Pheidole of the islands of the Southwest Indian Ocean
• Key to US Pheidole
• Key to New World Pheidole Species Groups
• Key to Pheidole pilifera group
• Key to Pheidole majors and minors of Borneo
• Key to Pheidole majors of Borneo
• Key to Pheidole minors of Borneo
• Key to Pheidole of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province
• Key to Pheidole of Hispaniola

Distribution

New World - Widespread although spottily distributed, and sometimes locally very abundant, from southern Florida, Bermuda, and the Bahamas south through the West Indies, southern Mexico, and Central America, to as far south in South America as Santa Catarina, Brazil (Wilson 2003). Detected in southern California in 2014 (see AntWeb) and currently subject of active control measures.

It is widespread in south and central Florida north to St. Augustine (St. Johns Co.), but sporadic, often occurring as a huge polydomous population, for example at the Selby Gardens in Sarasota County. In Hawaii this is the dominant ant in many habitats (Huddleston and Fluker 1968), with disastrous effects on the native arthropods, but in Florida it is a minor species. Pest status: where concentrations of this species occur, large groups of scavenging workers may invade buildings. First published Florida record: Smith 1933. (Deyrup, Davis & Cover, 2000.)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 37.8° to -34.3216°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Benin, Cameroun, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe.
Australasian Region: Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand.
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Mauritius (type locality), Mayotte, Réunion, Seychelles.
Nearctic Region: United States.
Neotropical Region: Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Greater Antilles, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Lesser Antilles, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
Oriental Region: India, Nicobar Island, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
Palaearctic Region: Canary Islands, China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Oman, Romania, Türkiye, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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.

Biology

This ant is predaceous and scavenging, and may attend Homoptera for honey dew.

From Wilson (2003): The colonies, which are continuous, with no evident pheromone-based boundaries, and large numbers of fertile queens, are able to reach enormous size. In some areas, especially islands such as Madeira, Culebrita, and the Dry Tortugas, they form a virtually continuous supercolony that excludes most other ant species. They do best in relatively moist, disturbed habitats, thus thrive around human habitations and in cultivated land. Nest sites are highly variable, from within and beneath rotting logs and underneath rocks and sidewalk flagstones to the bark and trunk-based detritus of standing trees. Columns of foragers travel substantial distances from one nest site to another and to food sources. P. megacephala are aggressive toward other species, and war with populations of such locally dominant species as the Indo-Australian weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina and the cosmopolitan Argentine ant Linepithema humile (= Iridomyrmex humilis). General accounts of this important species are given by Wilson (1971), Holldobler and Wilson (1990), and D. F. Williams et al. (1994). A bibliography of the ant for North America is provided by D. R. Smith (1979). The devastating effect on the native Hawaiian insect fauna was described by the pioneering entomologist R. C. L. Perkins (1913).

While this species nests most commonly outside, when found in buildings they occupy ceilings, wall cavities, power outlets and nearly any suitable space.

Bertelsmeier et al. (2015a, b) examined elements of interspecific aggression, and food resource discovery and dominance, between this species and several other highly invasive ants. In laboratory assays Pheidole megacephala was aggressive when confronted with workers of other invasive ants. Of the group of four species that were found to be aggressive, P. megacephala was the most adept at finding and recruiting to food in a laboratory arena experiment. It was also found to be the least effective aggressor of the group of four invasive ants examined.

Eguchi (2008) - For detailed information on biology and ecological and economic impacts of this species see Reimer et al. (1993), Campbell (1994), Hoffmann (1998), Wetterer (1998), Hoffmann et al. (1999), Vanderwoude et al. (2000), etc.

Regional Accounts

Western Australia

Though identified from stray specimens (possibly in cargo) much earlier, the pest first made its presence known as a colonist in South Perth in 1942 (May and Heterick 2000). The ant now occupies much of the metropolitan area, and is probably assisting, along with the Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile), with the ongoing demise of Perth’s native ant fauna (Heterick et al. 2002). This pest can also be seen in many cities and towns throughout WA.

Florida

Deyrup, Davis & Cover (2000): Pheidole megacephala, like Linepithema humile, has been in Florida for a long time and is the dominant ant on a few sites. These two species appear to be mutually exclusive, and vie for supremacy in Bermuda (Haskins and Haskins 1965) and Hawaii (Reimer 1994). In Florida, P. megacephala occurs from Tampa through the Florida Keys, with one record from the coast of St. Johns Co. Its rarity in north Florida is probably due to cooler winter temperatures. We have no explanation why it is not a dominant species in tropical and subtropical parts of the state.

Japan

Le Breton et al. (2006) found pupae of this species in an Okinawa Island (southern Japan) population were parasitized by an undescribed Uropodidae mite species. The mite appeared to be a native species in the region hence is believed to have shifted its host choice after the arrival of P. megachepala. Ninety-two percent of the nests sampled (n=75) were infested with mites.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, it was found to nests in ground or soil in crevices on trees. As well as the abundant findings on cocoa, it was found foraging on native trees, cashew, coffee, kola, oil palm and plantain. One of the commonest and the most widespread ant species on cocoa, dominant on 12-14% of cocoa trees throughout the cocoa growing area, regarded as positively associated with Oecophylla longinoda, (Taylor, 1977; Taylor & Adedoyin, 1978). It avidly tends Homoptera, of all main types, and constructs tents of soil, plant or arthropod debris or a combination. The tents, especially those constructed of soil, were frequently associated with cocoa black pod infections and because of this, the ant may be one of the main sources of the onset of the black pod epidemic. Climb high into the trees, up to 320 cm, making debris tents above about 150 cm. (Taylor et al., 2018)

Oman

Sharaf et al (2018) - Oman: A nest series was found under a stone next to a large Rubus sp. tree. Many workers were also found under a pomegranate tree. Another nest series was found under a rock where the soil was dry and loose. Several workers were also occurred in moist soil under a stone next to a date palm tree.

Flight Period

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Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Source: antkeeping.info.

• Check details at Worldwide Ant Nuptial Flights Data, AntNupTracker and AntKeeping.

 Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Association with Other Organisms

 Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• This species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Orasema fraudulenta (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• This species is a host for the encyrtid wasp Anagyrus ananatis (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (associate).
• This species is a host for the encyrtid wasp Anagyrus lopezi (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (associate).
• This species is a host for the encyrtid wasp Anagyrus saccharicola (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (associate).
• This species is a host for the encyrtid wasp Blepyrus schwarzi (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (associate).
• This species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Ivieosema fraudulenta (a parasite) (Reichensperger, 1913; Baker et al., 2019; Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).
• This species is a host for the cricket Myrmecophilus quadrispinus (a myrmecophile).
• This species is a mutualist for the psyllid Diaphorina enderleini (a trophobiont) in Cameroon, Ethiopia (Aléné et al., 2011).

Aléné et al. (2011) observed a very unusual behaviour between the psyllid Diaphorina enderleini and Pheidole megacephala and Crematogaster striatula. While female psyllids are laying eggs on the lower leaf surface, workers of P. megacephala quickly pile up detritus combined with soil around and partly above the psyllids, resulting in a shelter-like structure. Those of C. striatula build carton shelters. During this procedure the adult female psyllids hardly move away from their eggs and larvae. The psyllid larvae are arranged in tight rows along the leaf veins, especially the principal one, and sometimes at the base of very young branches. The larvae are mostly sedentary and only move, slowly and steadily, when disturbed. They do not produce wax, as can be expected from the almost complete lack of the circumanal ring. Females and larvae excrete large drops of honeydew, which are immediately recovered by ants. In Camponotus acvapimensis and Myrmicaria opaciventris the workers did not build any structure around the psyllids but they were observed taking honeydew from them.

Life History Traits

• Queen number: polygynous (Holldobler and Wilson, 1977; Frumhoff & Ward, 1992)

Castes

For additional images see Pheidole megacephala image gallery.

Worker

Minor

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0059654. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Major

.	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0104406. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA.

Male

Images from AntWeb

Male (alate). Specimen code casent0134924. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

• edax. Formica edax Forskål, 1775: 84 (w.) EGYPT. Junior synonym of megacephala: Emery, 1892b: 160; Dalla Torre, 1892: 90. [If synonymy correct then edax is the senior name; however, under Art. 23.9 of ICZN (1999) edax is a nomen oblitum.]
• megacephala. Formica megacephala Fabricius, 1793: 361 (s.) no locality given. Latreille, 1802c: 232 (q.); Mayr, 1861: 70 (s.w.q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953b: 75 (l.). Combination in Pheidole: Roger, 1863b: 30. Senior synonym of trinodis: Roger, 1863b: 30; of edax: Dalla Torre, 1892: 90; Emery, 1892b: 160 (see note under edax); of perniciosa: Emery, 1915j: 235; of pusilla (and its junior synonyms janus, laevigata Smith, laevigata Mayr): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 812; of suspiciosa: Donisthorpe, 1932c: 455; of testacea: Brown, 1981: 530; of agilis: Eguchi, 2008: 56; of bernhardae, gietleni, picata, scabrior: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 333. [P. megalocephala Schulz, 1906: 155; unjustified emendation.] Current subspecies: nominal plus costauriensis, duplex, ilgii, impressifrons, melancholica, nkomoana, rotundata, speculifrons, talpa. See also: Eguchi, 2001b: 77; Wilson, 2003: 549.
• trinodis. Myrmica trinodis Losana, 1834: 327, pl. 36, fig. 6 (w.) ITALY. Junior synonym of megacephala: Roger, 1863b: 30.
• pusilla. Oecophthora pusilla Heer, 1852: 15, pl. 1, figs. 1-4 (s.w.q.m.) PORTUGAL (Madeira I.). Combination in Pheidole: Smith, F. 1858b: 173. Subspecies of megacephala: Emery, 1915j: 235. Senior synonym of janus: Mayr, 1886c: 360; of laevigata Smith: Roger, 1859: 259; Emery, 1915j: 235; of laevigata Mayr: Mayr, 1870b: 981 (footnote). Junior synonym of megacephala: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 812.
• agilis. Myrmica agilis Smith, F. 1857a: 71 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA. Combination in Pheidole: Donisthorpe, 1932c: 449. Junior synonym of megacephala; Eguchi, 2008: 56.
• janus. Pheidole janus Smith, F. 1858b: 175, pl. 9, figs. 13-17 (s.w.) SRI LANKA. Junior synonym of pusilla: Mayr, 1886c: 360.
• testacea. Atta testacea Smith, F. 1858b: 168 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Pheidole: Mayr, 1886c: 360. Junior synonym of megacephala: Brown, 1981: 530.
• perniciosa. Oecophthora perniciosa Gerstäcker, 1859: 263 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE. [Also described as new by Gerstäcker, 1862: 516.] Combination in Pheidole: Roger, 1863b: 31. Junior synonym of megacephala: Emery, 1915j: 235.
• suspiciosa. Myrmica suspiciosa Smith, F. 1859a: 148 (w.) INDONESIA (Aru I.). Junior synonym of megacephala: Donisthorpe, 1932c: 455.
• scabrior. Pheidole megacephala var. scabrior Forel, 1891b: 178 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR. Junior synonym of megacephala: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 333. See also: Forel, 1897c: 188.
• picata. Pheidole megacephala var. picata Forel, 1891b: 178 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR. Subspecies of megacephala: Forel, 1895a: 49; of punctulata: Forel, 1897c: 186; Forel, 1905b: 163; Santschi, 1910c: 370. Raised to species: Emery, 1915j: 245; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1019. Junior synonym of megacephala: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 333.
• gietleni. Pheidole punctulata r. gietleni Forel, 1905b: 164 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR. Subspecies of picata: Emery, 1915j: 245. Junior synonym of megacephala: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 333.
• bernhardae. Pheidole picata var. bernhardae Emery, 1915j: 245 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR. [First available use of Pheidole punctulata r. spinosa var. bernhardae Forel, 1905b: 164; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of megacephala: Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 333.

Type Material

• Formica megacephala Fabricius, 1793: Neotype (designated by Fischer & Fisher, 2013: 332), worker, Camizard Mt., Bambous, 375 m,, Mauritius, 20.3328°S 57.723°E / -20.3328; 57.723, 27.v.2005, B.L. Fisher et al., CASENT0104990, California Academy of Sciences; collection code BLF12051, rainforest, ex rotten log.

The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Myrmica agilis

Three worker minor syntypes in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “35 Malac.” (= Malacca, West Malaysia).

Myrmica suspiciosa

Two worker minor syntypes in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “Aru.”

Pheidole megacephala

Holotype worker major in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “Bac. 53.”

Fischer and Fisher (2013) - The types are presumed lost. No type specimens could be located in both of the two possible collections – the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen (Zoologisk Museum, University of Copenhagen) and the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris (Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle). To stabilize the name P. megacephala we designated a neotype in this publication. The neotype, together with many associated specimens, was collected on Mauritius. The material is morphologically concordant with previous redescriptions (Wilson 2003, Eguchi 2008), and identical to P. megacephala material from other collection localities (e.g. Papua New Guinea and Australia).

Taxonomic Notes

Fischer and Fisher (2013) - Possibly as a result of its wide distribution and local abundances, a number of subspecies and synonyms have accumulated during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Several of the subspecies are probably synonyms (unpublished data), and a number of described and undescribed related species add to the taxonomic confusion within the megacephala group.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Wilson (2003) - Major and minor: in side view, entire postpetiole oval in shape, with all of the ventral margin bulging in a conspicuous convexity, and the node oval, low, and weakly developed; mesonotal convexity absent, the promesonotal profile forming a nearly smooth semicircle; color brownish yellow.

Major: outline of head plus mandibles in full-face view forms a near-perfect heart shape; rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa.

Minor: occiput broad, lacking an occipital collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Major (Grand Bahama Island): HW 1.32, HL 1.32, SL 0.64, EL 0.18, PW 0.60. Minor (Grand Bahama Island): HW 0.54, HL 0.62, SL 0.66, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major and minor: brownish yellow.

Fischer and Fisher (2013) - Major Measurements (neotype): HW 1.29, HL 1.28, SL 0.69, MDL 0.67, EL 0.17, WL 1.04, PNH 0.45, PNW 0.60, MNH 0.45, PDH 0.34, PTL 0.38, PPL 0.26, PTH 0.22, PPH 0.26, PTW 0.18, PPW 0.36, PSL 0.15, MFL 0.92, MTL 0.66, CI 101, SI 54, MDI 52, EI 13, FI 71, PSLI 12, LPpI 100, DPpI 137, PpWI 197, PpLI 68, PpHI 118.

(n=19): HW 1.10–1.54 (1.30), HL 1.04–1.59 (1.30), SL 0.59–0.76 (0.67), MDL 0.59–0.82 (0.70), EL 0.15–0.19 (0.17), WL 0.94–1.22 (1.06), PNH 0.36–0.54 (0.45), PNW 0.54–0.74 (0.62), MNH 0.61–0.80 (0.68), PDH 0.33–0.53 (0.37), PTL 0.31–0.44 (0.38), PPL 0.23–0.29 (0.26), PTH 0.20–0.28 (0.23), PPH 0.22–0.31 (0.26), PTW 0.14–0.22 (0.18), PPW 0.27–0.45 (0.34), PSL 0.13–0.20 (0.16), MFL 0.77–1.06 (0.89), MTL 0.59– 0.77 (0.67), CI 97–106 (101), SI 47–58 (52), MDI 51–57 (54), EI 11–15 (13), FI 65–73 (69), PSLI 11–14 (12), LPpI 90–114 (100), DPpI 108–156 (134), PpWI 171–210 (190), PpLI 61–81 (69), PpHI 105–123 (114).

Head as long as wide (CI 97–103), usually heart shaped with strongly convex sides and posterior emargination moderately deeply impressed. Mandibles moderately long (MDI 51–57), smooth and shiny. Clypeus smooth with median carina short or absent and one or two pairs of lateral carinae. Frons and sides of head anteriorly, longitudinally rugose, interspaces superficially punctate at frons, punctate or weakly punctate at sides, with a few longer rugae ventral of eyes, posterior 2/5 of head smooth and shiny, except for two weakly to faintly developed longitudinal rugae medially and, rarely present, short, faint rugulae submedially at posterior emargination. Sides of head dorsal and ventral of eyes in profile with few irregular rugae extending up to posterior 1/4 of head, space in between, posterior of eyes, largely unsculptured. Frontal carinae and antennal scrobe absent. Scapes of medium length (SI 47–58) with decumbent to subdecumbent pilosity and few longer, suberect hairs along outer edge. Submedian hypostomal teeth very small to inconspicuous, median process absent. Promesonotum moderately high-domed, in profile usually subangulate posteriorly, humeri in dorsal view not produced, promesonotal process not conspicuously produced, posterior declivity often weakly marginate anteriorly (at posterior end of pronotum), oblique and angulate at its lower portion. Surface of promesonotum and lateropronotum mostly smooth to superficially punctate, with few faint, irregular, transverse rugulae, remainder of mesosoma weakly punctate, with smooth or superficially punctate spots between. Metanotal groove narrow, barely or not impressed, and with few superficially developed cross-ribs. Spines short-spinose to subtriangular in profile (PSI 11–14). Metatibia relatively short (FI 65–72), metafemur pilosity on inner edge decumbent, on outer edge suberect to subdecumbent. Postpetiole in profile about as high as long (LPpI 90–114), with large convex ventral process, in dorsal view trapezoid and on average 1.9 times wider than petiole (PpWI 171–210). Dorsum of petiole and postpetiole smooth, remainder weakly punctate. Gaster smooth. Amount and length of standing hairs on body dorsum variable, usually with few long hairs and some shorter hairs, with several hairs apically blunt or bifurcate. Fine, short pilosity not abundant. Color variable from light to dark brown, head and gaster often darker than the rest.

Minor Measurements (n=20): HW 0.50–0.61 (0.55), HL 0.57–0.68 (0.62), SL 0.61– 0.72 (0.65), MDL 0.32–0.41 (0.36), EL 0.12–0.15 (0.13), WL 0.62–0.84 (0.73), PNH 0.22–0.29 (0.25), PNW 0.32–0.39 (0.35), MNH 0.42–0.53 (0.46), PDH 0.21–0.27 (0.24), PTL 0.22–0.28 (0.24), PPL 0.17–0.22 (0.19), PTH 0.13–0.16 (0.14), PPH 0.16–0.19 (0.14), PTW 0.09–0.11 (0.10), PPW 0.17–0.21 (0.18), PSL 0.07–0.10 (0.08), MFL 0.57–0.76 (0.67), MTL 0.44–0.57 (0.51), CI 86–92 (90), SI 114–122 (118), MDI 63–70 (66), EI 22– 26 (24), FI 114–125 (121), PSLI 13–16 (14), LPpI 94–120 (109), DPpI 89–112 (98), PpWI 164–200 (180), PpLI 70–91 (79), PpHI 110–146 (125).

Head shape roundly ovoid, slightly longer than wide (CI 86–92), sides convex, posterior head margin rounded laterally, medially sometimes slightly compressed, occipital carina very narrow in full-face view, often weakly impressed medially. Mandibles relatively short (MDI 63–70), smooth. Clypeus and remainder of face smooth, clypeal carinae absent or inconspicuous, around antennal insertion few concentric rugulae present and often weakly to superficially developed. Scapes relatively short (SI 114–122), when laid back surpassing posterior head margin by slightly more than the length of tenth funicular segment, with subdecumbent to suberect pilosity. Promesonotal outline in lateral view roundly convex, usually evenly declining from highest point toward metanotal groove, posterior process absent. Metanotal groove in profile weakly impressed, with dorsally weak to laterally superficial cross-ribs. Propodeum about as long as high, in profile slightly declining toward spines. Propodeal spines much shorter than distance between their bases, short-spinose to subtriangular and acute (PSLI 13–16, mean: 14). Promesonotum largely smooth, except superficial punctures anteriorly near the neck, mesopleuron and propodeum punctate to weakly punctate, often with superficially sculptured to smooth areas laterally. Metafemur short (FI 114–125), metatibia with decumbent pilosity and scattered suberect longer hairs on outer edge. Postpetiole in profile with large convex ventral process, on average 1.1 times longer than high (LPpI 94–120), and 0.8 times as long as petiole (PpLI 70–91). Dorsum of petiole and postpetiole smooth, remainder weakly to superficially punctate. Gaster smooth and shiny. Standing hairs short to moderately long, relatively coarse, erect to suberect, not abundant, and usually with some to several hairs apically split or bifurcate. Color usually light brown, sometimes brown, gaster darker brown.

Wilson 2003. Upper: major. Lower: minor. BAHAMAS: Grand Bahama Island. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Karyotype

• See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.

 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 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).

Etymology

Gr L megacephala, large-headed, referring to the major. (Wilson 2003)

References

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