Pheidole setsukoae

Pheidole setsukoae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Pheidole
Species:	P. setsukoae
Binomial name
Pheidole setsukoae Wilson, 2003

Robert J. Hamton (in litt. 1990): the majors and minors were foraging in a single file to dead moths at a blacklight (ultraviolet light used to attract insects). (Wilson 2003)

Identification

See the description in the nomenclature section.

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Pheidole Species Groups
• Key to Pheidole pilifera group

Distribution

Only known from the type locality.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.344928° to 25.344928°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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.

• setsukoae. Pheidole setsukoae Wilson, 2003: 597, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO.

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

Description

DIAGNOSIS A member of the pilifera group uniquely distinguished within not just Pheidole but ants as a whole by the phragmotic condition of the occiput of the major, as illustrated. Also distinctive in the major, although not unique, are the lack of hypostomal dentition; the high, smoothly rounded outline of the promesonotum in side view; the dense parallel longitudinal carinulae that radiate from the antennal fossae and antennal lobes to the sides of the head; and the conulate postpetiolar node. The minor is typical of the “bicarinata complex” (see under Pheidole bicarinata).

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.38, HL 1.54, SL 0.62, EL 0.14, PW 0.76. Paratype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.54, SL 0.60, EL 0.12, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: concolorous clear yellow with a very slight orange tinge (“light orange”).

Minor: clear medium yellow; dorsal surface of head slightly infuscated, i.e., dark yellow to light brownish yellow.

Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Type Material

MEXICO: 59 km north of Culiacan, Sinaloa, col. Robert J. Hamton. Museum of Comparative Zoology

Etymology

Named after Barbara Setsuko Hamton.

References

• Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 597, fig. major, minor described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
• Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press