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Pheidole sphaerica
| Pheidole sphaerica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. sphaerica |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole sphaerica Wilson, 2003 | |
Nothing is known about the biology of sphaerica.
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Only known from the type locality.
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia (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. |
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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
Known only from the major caste.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- sphaerica. Pheidole sphaerica Wilson, 2003: 755, figs. (s.) COLOMBIA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
DIAGNOSIS A large, spectacularly distinct species whose major has a huge spherical head, proportionately reduced clypeus and mandibles, a mesonotum that drops vertically in side view to the metanotum, and a near-absence of pilosity on the head and mesosoma.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.98, HL 1.92, SL 0.84, EL 0.24, PW 0.90.
COLOR Major: head, appendages, and most of gaster light reddish yellow (light “orange”); mesosoma, waist, and part of gaster medium reddish yellow (medium “orange”).
Figure. Holotype, major. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
COLOMBIA: St. Augustin, Huila, col. L. Garling. Museum of Comparative Zoology
Etymology
Gr sphaerica, shaped like a ball, alluding to the head.
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 755, fig. major described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Wilson E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, [ix] + 794 pp.