Pheidole subsphaerica

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Pheidole subsphaerica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Pheidole
Species: P. subsphaerica
Binomial name
Pheidole subsphaerica
Wilson, 2003

Nothing is known about the biology of subsphaerica.

Identification

See the description in the nomenclature section.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Only known from the type locality.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5° to 5°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Nomenclature

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

  • subsphaerica. Pheidole subsphaerica Wilson, 2003: 761, figs. (s.w.) 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, unusual species of the tristis group, similar to Pheidole pepo, Pheidole rotundiceps, and the dramatically unique Pheidole sphaerica (q.v.), and distinguished as follows.

Major: head in full-face view circular, with flattened posterior dorsal margin; carinulae limited to the level of the posterior margin of the eye, those originating mesad to the eye curving downward below the eye and then back up again, as illustrated; promesonotum and head mostly smooth and shiny; postpetiole cone-shaped; all of body densely pilose.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 2.02, HL 1.94, SL 1.18, EL 0.26, PW 0.94. Paratype minor: HW 0.66, HL 0.42, SL 0.96, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: concolorous light reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous clear yellow.


Pheidole subsphaerica Wilson 2003.jpg

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

Type Material

COLOMBIA: Chinchina, col. W. L. Brown. Museum of Comparative Zoology

Etymology

L Gr subsphaerica, shaped somewhat like a ball, referring to the head of the major.

References