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Pheidole smythiesii
| Pheidole smythiesii | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. smythiesii |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole smythiesii Forel, 1902
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| Synonyms | |
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This species usually inhabits woody habitats and sometimes occurs in open lands, and nests in the soil. According to Alfred & Agarwal (1990) workers tend aphid colonies (Micromyzus kalimponginsis) on Hedychium coronarium (Zingiberaceae) in Shillong, India. (Eguchi 2008)
Identification
Eguchi (2008) - There are no distinct differences between the syntypes of P. smythiesii and P. smythiesii bengalensis Forel. In Forel’s original description (Forel 1902), he mentioned that the head of the minor is longer in the latter than that in the former. The cephalic index is, however, not so different between them: CI 0.86 in the latter and CI 0.88–0.89 in the former. Thus P. smythiesii bengalensis is merely a local population of P. smythiesii. The differences between P. smythiesii and P. bhavanae shown by Bingham (1903) seem to be inadequate for separating them at the species level, and in the course of examination of the type material I also could not find definitive evidence which supports Bingham’s recognition of P. bhavanae from P. smythiesii. Thus I conclude that they are conspecific.
In Vietnam only two species, Pheidole smythiesii and Pheidole gatesi, have 4-segmented antennal clubs, and they are morphologically very similar to each other. Differences between the two species are given under the remarks of P. gatesi.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known from the Indian and Indo-Chinese subregions.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 32.812778° to 18.8°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India (type locality), Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam.
Palaearctic Region: China.
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
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0281648. Photographer Shannon Hartman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
   
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| Syntype of Pheidole bhavanae. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0901502. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
   
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| Syntype of Pheidole bhavanae. Worker. Specimen code casent0901503. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
   
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| Syntype of Pheidole smythiesii. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0908315. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
   
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| Syntype of Pheidole smythiesii. Worker. Specimen code casent0908316. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
   
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| Syntype of Pheidole smythiesii bengalensis. Worker. Specimen code casent0908317. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- bengalensis. Pheidole (Ceratopheidole) smythiesii var. bengalensis Forel, 1902c: 186 (w.) INDIA. Combination in Ceratopheidole: Emery, 1922e: 113; in Pheidole: Bolton, 1995b: 318. Junior synonym of smythiesii: Eguchi, 2008: 87.
- smythiesii. Pheidole (Ceratopheidole) smythiesii Forel, 1902c: 165 (s.), 185 (w.q.m.) INDIA. [Also described as new by Forel, 1902f: 38.] Combination in Ceratopheidole: Emery, 1922e: 113; in Pheidole: Bolton, 1995b: 330. Senior synonym of bengalensis, bhavanae: Eguchi, 2008: 87.
- bhavanae. Pheidole bhavanae Bingham, 1903: 228 (s.w.) INDIA. Combination in Ceratopheidole: Emery, 1922e: 113; in Pheidole: Bolton, 1995b: 318. Junior synonym of smythiesii: Eguchi, 2008: 87.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Eguchi (2008) - Major (n=5). — HL 2.63–3.03 mm; HW 2.63–3.09 mm; CI 95–102; SL 1.34–1.46 mm; SI 45–53; FL 2.26–2.39 mm; FI 74–86. Minor (n=5). — HL 0.95–1.19 mm; HW 0.82–1.03 mm; CI 86–91; SL 1.13–1.33 mm; SI 124–140; FL 1.38–1.67 mm; FI 156–168.
Major — Head in lateral view usually not impressed on vertex; frons and vertex longitudinally-obliquely rugose; dorsal and dorsolateral faces of vertexal lobe rugoso-recticulate, rugoso-punctate or almost smooth; frontal carina and antennal scrobe absent; median longitudinal carina of clypeus weak or inconspicuous; median process of hypostoma low or inconspicuous, rarely with a concavity in the center; submedian processes low or relatively well developed (but rarely very low); lateral processes conspicuous (but sometimes small); antenna with a 4-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye almost as long as or a little longer than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome in dorsal view smooth to shagreened, usually with transverse rugulae, in lateral view usually with a conspicuous prominence, but sometimes only with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; humerus not produced; the dome narrower at the humeri than at the bottom. Petiole as long as or shorter than postpetiole (excluding its helcium); postpetiole massive. First gastral tergite shagreened to smooth.
Minor — Dorsum of head largely smooth or at most dimly punctured; preoccipital carina conspicuous dorsally and laterally; median part of clypeus smooth and shining; median longitudinal carina present at least anteriorly (but sometimes very weak); antenna with a 4-segmented club; scape extending far beyond postero-lateral margin of head; maximal diameter of eye shorter than (but rarely as long as) antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome smooth or shagreened, sometimes with weak rugulae, in lateral view with a low mound on its posterior slope; humerus in dorso-oblique view not raised; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum weakly punctured or almost smooth. Petiole much shorter than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole massive.
Type Material
Eguchi (2008):
Syntypes: 2 majors, 3 minors & 3 males, “Assam (Smythies) LXVII 8, 17 et 11.” [Assam, India], Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève, examined; 1 major, “Assam (Smythies) LXVII 10”, MHNG, examined; 1 queen, “Assam Smythies XCV 4”, MHNG, examined.
Pheidole (Ceratopheidole) smythiesii var. bengalensis. Syntype: 1 minor, Bengal, India, MHNG, examined.
Syn.n. Syntypes: 1 major, “Sikkim Darjiling Senchal 8000ft 4. 1900 Bingham” [India; according to the original description Rogers collected the material], The Natural History Museum, examined; original description also included syntype minor(s) from the same locality, not examined.
References
- Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 330, Combination in Pheidole: new combination)
- Dendup, K.C., Dorji, C., Dhadwal, T., Bharti, H., Pfeiffer, M. 2021. A preliminary checklist of ants from Bhutan. Asian Myrmecology 14, e014005 (doi:10.20362/am.014005).
- Eguchi, K. 2003. A Study on the Male Genitalia of Some Asian Species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Sociobiology 41(2): 317-355 (page 335, figs. 27A, B male genitalia described)
- Eguchi, K. 2008. A revision of Northern Vietnamese species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Zootaxa 1902:1-118.
- Emery, C. 1922c. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [part]. Genera Insectorum 174B: 95-206 (page 113, Combination in Ceratopheidole)
- Forel, A. 1902c. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249 (page 165, 185, soldier described, worker, queen, male described)
- Forel, A. 1902g. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part IX. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 520-546 (also described as new)
- Khachonpisitsak, S., Yamane, S., Sriwichai, P., Jaitrong, W. 2020. An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 998, 1–182 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.998.54902).
- Subedi, I.P., Budha, P.B., Bharti, H., Alonso, L. 2020. An updated checklist of Nepalese ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 1006, 99–136 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1006.58808).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
- Bui T.V., and K. Eguchi. 2003. Ant survey in Hoang Lien Son Nature Reserve, Lao Cai, N. Vietnam. ANeT Newsletter 5: 4-11.
- Collingwood C.A. 1970. Formicidae (Hymenopter: Aculeata) of Nepal. Himalaya Khumbu Himal, 3: 371-388.
- Eguchi K. 2008. A revision of Northern Vietnamese species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Zootaxa 1902: 1-118.
- Eguchi K.; Bui T. V.; Yamane S. 2011. Generic synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), part I Myrmicinae and Pseudomyrmecinae. Zootaxa 2878: 1-61.
- Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
- 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.
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, 2002. Report of a Rapid Biodiversity Assessment at Yangchun Baiyong Nature Reserve, Southwest Guangdong, 3 May 1998. South China Forest Biodiversity Survey Report Series (Online Simplified Version): No. 5. KFBG, Hong Kong SAR, ii + 14 pp.
- Liu C, B. Guénard, F Hita Garcia, S. Yamane, B. Blanchard, and E. Economo. New records of ant species from Yunnan, China. Submitted to Zookeys
- Liu X. 2012. Taxonomy, diversity and spatial distribution characters of the ant family Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in southeastern Tibet. PhD Thesis 139 pages
- Liu X., Z. Xu, N. Yu, and C. Zhang. 2016. Distribution patterns of ant species ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Galongla Mountains and Medog Valley of Southeastern Tibet. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 52(11): 88-95.
- Mathew R. 1983. Studies on house-hold insect-pests (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Shillong. Bulletin of the Zoological Survey of India 5(1):125-127.
- Pajni H. R., and R. K. Suri. 1978. First report on the Formicid fauna (Hymenoptera) of Chandigarh. Res. Bull. (Science) Punjab University 29: 5-12.
- Qin F., S. Wei, Z. Zeng, S. Zhou, and X. Qin. 2008. Molecular phylogenetic research on five genera of Formicidae. Agricultural Science and Technology 9(5): 66-69.
- Rothney G. A. J. 1903. The aculeate Hymenoptera of Barrackpore, Bengal. Trans. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 1903: 93-116.
- Sakchoowong W., W. Jaitrong, and K. Ogata. 2008. Ant diversity in forest and traditional hill-tribe agricultural types in northern Thailand. Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 42: 617-626.
- Tak N., and S. I. Kazmi. 2013. On some ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Nagaland, India. Rec. zool. Surv. India: 113(1): 169-182.
- Tang Jue, Li Shen, Huang Enyou, Zhang Benyue. 1985. Notes on ants from Zhoushan islands , Zhejiang (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Acta Agriculturae Universitatis Chekianensis 11(3): 307-318.
- Tang Jue, Li Shen, Huang Enyou, Zhang Benyue. 1985. Notes on ants from Zhoushan Islands Zhejiang (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Zhejiang University (Agric.& Life Sci.) 3.
- Thapa V. K. 2000. An Inventory of Nepal's Insects, Vol. III. IUCN Nepal, Kathmandu, xi + 475 pp.
- Tiwari R. N., B. G. Kundu, S. Roy Chowdhury, and S. N. Ghosh. 2003. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Fauna of Sikkim. Part 4. State Fauna Series. 9.Zool.Surv.India. i-iii, 1-512. Chapter pagination: 467-506.