Pheidole soritis

Pheidole soritis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Pheidole
Species:	P. soritis
Binomial name
Pheidole soritis Wheeler, W.M., 1908 Specimen Label
Synonyms
Pheidole sitarches Wheeler, W.M., 1908 Pheidole sitarches campestris Creighton, 1950 Pheidole sitarches rufescens Wheeler, W.M., 1908 Pheidole sitarches transvarians Wheeler, W.M., 1908

In eastern Colorado, Gregg (1963) found P. soritis under rocks in the clay soil of cottonwood-willow woodland and shortgrass prairie, from 1000 to 1300 m. I encountered it near Datil, New Mexico, in open juniper woodland (Wilson 1957). A nuptial flight was observed in progress following rainfall on 9 August in an abandoned homesite clearing. The swarms of flying ants, which held resolutely to the clearings, consisted mostly of males. The aggregations were roughly circular in shape and hovered from about half a meter to nearly 2 meters above the surface, depending on wind conditions. Winged queens flew into the swarms and were quickly seized by a male, whereupon the pair spiraled to the ground together. After insemination, the queens shed their wings and ran off over the ground, evidently in search of a nest site. (Wilson 2003)

Identification

The major of this species is small (total length about 2 1/2 mm), the scapes expand about 1/2 way to the posterior lateral corners, the anterior 1/2 of the head is covered with fine, longitudinal rugae, the posterior half is roughly sculptured with longitudinal and transverse striae, the tops of the posterior lateral lobes have transverse striae. The humeral angles and lateral connules are poorly developed. The anterior part of pronotum is predominantly glossy, the posterior part is covered with transverse, but fine striae. The minor worker is a small black ant, in which most of the dorsum of the head is smooth and glossy, the side and top of the pronotum are smooth and glossy, the remainder of the mesosoma punctate. The hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma are blunt tipped, but not clavate. The minors in our samples show considerable variation in the sculpturing of the head, and in the pronotal rugae, and some of them would key to Pheidole sitarches. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Also see the description in the nomenclature section.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Pheidole pilifera group
• Key to US Pheidole

Distribution

Mississippi west to Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and northern Mexico. (Wilson 2003)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 40.988326° to 18.931111°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.
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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

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 cestode Raillietina loeweni (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest; as Pheidole sitarches campestris).

Castes

Minor Worker

Worker (minor). .	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0104448. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Type of Pheidole soritis. Worker. Specimen code casent0172982. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Major Worker

Lectotype of Pheidole soritis. Worker (major). .	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Lectotype of Pheidole sitarches. Worker (major). .	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Worker (major). .

Images from AntWeb

Syntype of Pheidole soritis. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0172980. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Type of Pheidole sitarches rufescens. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0172981. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

• rufescens. Pheidole sitarches subsp. rufescens Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 443 (s.w.q.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of campestris: Creighton, 1950a: 189; of soritis: Cole, 1953e: 298; of campestris: Gregg, 1959: 30. [Although both Creighton and Gregg give campestris as the senior name, rufescens has priority: Bolton, 1995b: 329.] Subspecies of sitarches: Bolton, 1995b: 329. Junior synonym of soritis: Wilson, 2003: 598.
• sitarches. Pheidole sitarches Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 440 (s.w.q.) U.S.A. Senior synonym of transvarians: Creighton, 1950a: 189; Gregg, 1959: 30. Junior synonym of soritis: Wilson, 2003: 598.
• soritis. Pheidole soritis Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 439 (s.w.) U.S.A. Subspecies of sitarches: Creighton, 1950a: 190. Revived status as species: Cole, 1953e: 298. Junior synonym of sitarches: Cole, 1956c: 115. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of sitarches: Gregg, 1959: 30; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1373. Revived status as species and senior synonym of campestris, rufescens, sitarches, transvarians: Wilson, 2003: 598.
• transvarians. Pheidole sitarches var. transvarians Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 442 (s.w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of sitarches: Creighton, 1950a: 189; Gregg, 1959: 30; of soritis: Wilson, 2003: 598.
• campestris. Pheidole sitarches subsp. campestris Creighton, 1950a: 189 (s.w.) U.S.A. [First available use of Pheidole sitarches subsp. rufescens var. campestris Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 443; unavailable name.] Taber & Cokendolpher, 1988: 95 (k.). Junior synonym of soritis: Cole, 1953e: 298. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of sitarches: Cole, 1956c: 115 (footnote); Gregg, 1959: 30. Synonym of rufescens: Creighton, 1950a: 189; Gregg, 1959: 30. [Both references give campestris as senior synonym, but rufescens has priority and is the first available name for this taxon: Bolton, 1995b: 318.] Junior synonym of soritis: Wilson, 2003: 598.

Type Material

NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque. Museum of Comparative Zoology and American Museum of Natural History - as reported in Wilson (2003) Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the “pilifera complex” of the larger pilifera group, comprising Pheidole calens, Pheidole californica, Pheidole carrolli, Pheidole cavigenis, Pheidole clementensis, Pheidole creightoni, Pheidole hoplitica, Pheidole littoralis, Pheidole micula, Pheidole pilifera, Pheidole polymorpha, Pheidole rugulosa, Pheidole senex, Pheidole soritis, Pheidole tepicana and Pheidole torosa, which complex is distinguished by the following traits. Major: dorsal head surface extensively sculptured; occipital lobe transversely rugulose (or, in carrolli smooth, in littoralis foveate, and in micula and soritis carinulate); postpetiole from above diamond-shaped, trapezoidal, or spinose. Minor: eye medium-sized to large.

P. soritis is distinguished within this complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: extensive transverse carinulae of occiput curve laterally and forward, with many reaching the anterior border of the head capsule; almost entire dorsal surface of head, including clypeus, carinulate; rugulae lacking on head; humerus low and smoothly convex; postpetiole seen from above laterally angulate; small denticle present on anterior ventral surface of postpetiole in side view.

Minor: dorsal profile of promesonotum lined solely with evenly spaced pairs of clavate hairs; similar hairs occur on the waist; eye very large. The tangled infraspecific nomenclature of this species has been built mostly on variation in the sculpturing of the minor’s head. From central Texas north and west, the posterior dorsal surface is foveolate and opaque (subsp. rufescens = subsp. campestris). To the south, into Mexico, it is smooth and shiny, as illustrated here (subsp. sitarches). Westward to Arizona and Utah it is carinulate (typical soritis). Whether this variation is truly geographic within a single species or reflects the existence of sibling species around sitarches sensu str., is a question that awaits closer field and museum research.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype soritis major: HW 1.16, HL 1.22, SL 0.60, EL 0.20, PW 0.52. Syntype sitarches minor (no type soritis minors available): HW 0.46, HL 0.50, SL 0.48, EL 0.12, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: head and appendages light reddish brown, body a slightly contrasting medium reddish brown.

Minor: body plain light brown, appendages brownish yellow.

Figure. Upper: syntype major of synonymous sitarches. Lower: syntype minor of synonymous sitarches. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Lectotype Specimen Labels

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 = 18, karyotype = 18M (USA) (Taber & Cokendolpher, 1988) (as Pheidole sitarches campestris).

Etymology

Unknown

References

• Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 598, fig. major, minor described, Senior synonym of rufescens, campestris, rufescens, transvarians, Revived as species)
• Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E., Vásquez-Bolaños, M. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1): 9-36.
• Baena, M.L., Escobar, F., Valenzuela, J.E. 2019. Diversity snapshot of green–gray space ants in two Mexican cities. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 40, 239–250 (doi:10.1007/s42690-019-00073-y).
• Baer, B. 2011. The copulation biology of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 14: 55-68.
• Cole, A. C., Jr. 1953g. Studies of New Mexico ants. V. The genus Pheidole with synonymy (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 28: 297-299 (page 298, Revived status as species)
• Cole, A. C., Jr. 1956c. Observations of some members of the genus Pheidole in the southwestern United States with synonymy (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 31: 112-118 (page 115, Junior synonym of sitarches)
• Creighton, W. S. 1950a. The ants of North America. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 104: 1-585 (page 190, Subspecies of sitarches)
• Gregg, R. E. 1959 [1958]. Key to the species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the United States. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 66: 7-48 (page 30, Revived from skynonymy as subspecies of sitarches, Senior synonym of cavigenis)
• Mackay, W. P. and E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY.
• Smith, D. R. 1979. Superfamily Formicoidea. Pp. 1323-1467 in: Krombein, K. V., Hurd, P. D., *Smith, D. R., Burks, B. D. (eds.) Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico. Volume 2. Apocrita (Aculeata). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Pr (page 1373, Revived from skynonymy as subspecies of sitarches)
• Vázquez-Franco, C.M., Morrone, J.J. 2022. The genus Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Puebla, Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 93: e933820 (doi:10.22201/ib.20078706e.2022.93.3820).
• Wheeler, W. M. 1908h. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 24: 399-485 (page 439, soldier, worker described)
• Wilson, E. O. 1957. The organization of a nuptial flight of the ant Pheidole sitarches Wheeler. Psyche (Camb.) 64: 46-50.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E. and M Vasquez-Bolanos. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1):9-36
• Allred D. M. 1982. Ants of Utah. The Great Basin Naturalist 42: 415-511.
• Allred, D.M. 1982. The ants of Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 42:415-511.
• Bestelmeyer B. T., and J. A. Wiens. 2001. Local and regional-scale responses of ant diversity to a semiarid biome transition. Ecography 24: 381-392.
• Cole A. C., Jr. 1956. Observations of some members of the genus Pheidole in the southwestern United States with synonymy (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 31: 112-118.
• Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
• Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-187.
• Gregg R. E. 1959. Key to the species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the United States. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 66: 7-48.
• Hess C. G. 1958. The ants of Dallas County, Texas, and their nesting sites; with particular reference to soil texture as an ecological factor. Field and Laboratory 26: 3-72. 
• Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
• LeBrun E. G., R. M. Plowes, and L. E. Gilbert. 2015. Imported fire ants near the edge of their range: disturbance and moisture determine prevalence and impact of an invasive social insect. Journal of Animal Ecology,81: 884–895.
• MacKay W. P. 1993. Succession of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on low-level nuclear waste sites in northern New Mexico. Sociobiology 23: 1-11.
• Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
• Mackay, W., D. Lowrie, A. Fisher, E. Mackay, F. Barnes and D. Lowrie. 1988. The ants of Los Alamos County, New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). pages 79-131 in J.C. Trager, editor, Advances in Myrmecololgy.
• McDonald D. L., D. R. Hoffpauir, and J. L. Cook. 2016. Survey yields seven new Texas county records and documents further spread of Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Southwestern Entomologist, 41(4): 913-920.
• Moody J. V., and O. F. Francke. 1982. The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Western Texas Part 1: Subfamily Myrmicinae. Graduate Studies Texas Tech University 27: 80 pp.
• Morrison, L.W. 2002. Long-Term Impacts of an Arthropod-Community Invasion by the Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta. Ecology 83(8):2337-2345
• Nash M. S., W. G. Whitford, J. Van Zee, and K. M. Havstad. 2000. Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) responses to environmental stressors in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert. Environ. Entomol, 29(2): 200-206.
• O'Keefe S. T., J. L. Cook, T. Dudek, D. F. Wunneburger, M. D. Guzman, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. 2000. The Distribution of Texas Ants. The Southwestern Entomologist 22: 1-92.
• Roeder K. A., and D. V. Roeder. 2016. A checklist and assemblage comparison of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Check List 12(4): 1935.
• Roeder K. A., and D. V. Roeder. 2017. The Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Oklahoma: new species records and distributional notes. Check List 13(2): 2071.
• Smith M. R. 1935. A list of the ants of Oklahoma (Hymen.: Formicidae). Entomological News 46: 235-241.
• Smith M. R. 1936. A list of the ants of Texas. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 44: 155-170.
• Taber S. W., and J. C. Cokendolpher. 1988. Karyotypes of a dozen ant species from the southwestern U.S.A. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Caryologia 41: 93-102.
• Torres, I. L., M. A. G. Martinez, H. O. Rivera, M. E. G. Tovar, H. E. L. Espinosa, and J. M. Gonzalez. 2018. Comparacion de dos muestreos de hormigas del suelo en la barranca de Metlac, Fortin de las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico. Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola 10: 173-178.
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• Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1985. A checklist of Texas ants. Prairie Naturalist 17:49-64.
• Wilson E. O. 1958. The organization of a nuptial flight of the ant Pheidole sitarches Wheeler. Psyche (Cambridge) 64: 46-50.
• Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press
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