Pheidole selathorax

Pheidole selathorax
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Pheidole
Species:	P. selathorax
Binomial name
Pheidole selathorax Zhou, 2001

Nothing is known about the biology of Pheidole selathorax.

Identification

Zhou (2001) - Resembles Pheidole ryukyuensis, but differs from the latter in pronotum and mesonotum smooth and shining, humeral corners of pronotum prominent, and base of the first gastral segment densely reticultate.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China (type locality).

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.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• selathorax. Pheidole selathorax Zhou, 2001b: 125, 235, figs. 230-232 (s.w.) CHINA.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype soldier: TL 4.2, HL 1.28, HW 1.10, CI 85, SL 0.63, SI 57, PW 0.50, AL 0.97, ED 0.15.

Head longer than broad, occipital border shallowly concave, median sulcus of head deep. Clypeus flat, anterior border with a shallow notch. Frontal area slightly impressed, not clearly bordered with posterior border of clypeus. Antenna! scapes short, not reaching medlength of the sides of head, terminal segment of funicular 2 X as long as the 10th. Frontal carinae short, diverging backward at the level of eyes. Gular denticles distinct, with 1 median denticle and 2 lateral denticles. Pronotum less than 1/2 of the width of head, lateral tubercles prominent, subrhombohedral in dorsal view; mesonotum oblique backward, transverse ridge absent; propodeal spines stout, blunt at tip, upward and outward. Petiolar node triangular in profile view, upper margin slightly concave in the middle; dorsum of postpetiole rounded, as high as petiolar node, transversely broad, about 1.8 X as broad as petiolar node in dorsal view, lateral angles prominent. Gaster oval.

Mandibles and middle of clypeus smooth and shining; lateral clypeus with short, fine longitudinal striations; cephical dorsum with sparse longitudinal striations, the striations diverging backward in the middle, feeble near occipital corners. Pronotum and mesonotum smooth and shining; mesopleuron and propodeum with sparse and irregular creases, among creases feebly punctate; basal face and declivity of propodeum with feeble transverse striations. Petiole, postpetiole and basal half of first gastral segment feebly reticulated, remaining gastral segments smooth and shining. Erect hairs yellow, soft, abundant , long erect hairs mixed up with short erect hairs., Antennal scapes and dorsum of hind tibia with moderately dense erect hairs. Pubescence absent.

Color brownish yellow. Head darker, slightly redish, gaster contaminate blackish brown; antennae and legs yellow.

Paratypes 4: TL 2.3~2.5, HL 0.54~0.56, HW 0.46~0.48, CI 84~85, SL 0.53~0.56, SI 110~119, PW 0.23~0.25, AL 0.65~0.68, ED 0.09~0.10. Head oval, longer than broad, occipital slightly concave in the middle. Antennal scapes slightly extending beyond occipital border, length of the extending part about 1.6 X as broad as the broadest diameter of its own. Dorsum of head with short, feeble longitudinal .striations between frontal carinae. Mesonotum and propodeum distinct punctate. Petiole feebly punctate, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining. Color lighter than that of soldier, mandibles and clypeus brown on their margin, posterior half of gaster contaminate brown.

Type Material

Holotype soldier, Huaping Natural Reserve, 8.VIII.1995, Shanyi Zhou leg. Para types 4 workers, data as holotype.

References

• Zhou, S. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guilin, China: Guangxi Normal University Press. 255 pp. (page 125, 235, figs. 23-232 soldier, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
• Huang Jian-hua, Zhou Shan-yi. 2007. A checklist of family Formicidae of China - Myrmicinae (Part II) (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 25(1): 91-99.
• Pan Y.S. 2007. Systematic Study on the Ant Genera Pheidole Westwood and Aphaenogaster Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formincidae : Myrmicinae) In China. Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi, China. 73 pages.