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Pheidole terraceensis
| Pheidole terraceensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. terraceensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole terraceensis Bharti, 2001 | |
The type material was collected from a soil nest.
Identification
Bharti (2001) - P. terraceensis is somewhat allied to Pheidole malinsii; but can be easily separated as; propodeum transversely rugose and punctate in P. terraceensis; but smooth and shining in malinsii; petiole without spine on appendage in P. terraceensis; with spine in malinsii: gaster finely punctate all over in R. terraceensis; longitudinally striate only on basal half in malinsii,· head punctured, reticulate in minor of P. terraceensis; but smooth in malinsii: scape extending beyond the top of head by more than half of its length in P. terraccensis (minor): but by one fourth in malinsii.
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India (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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- terraceensis. Pheidole terraceensis Bharti, 2001: 243, figs. 1-5 (s.w.) INDIA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype Major. Length: 6 mm; Head length 1.7 mm: Head width: 1.6 mm; Scape length: I .63 mm; Scape index: 98.39; Eye diameter: 0.29 mm; Pronotal width: 0.93 mm; Al itrunk length: 2 mm; Cephalic index: 103 .7: Mandibular index: 41.66.
Head: Almost as long as broad, slightly converging below eyes; transverse depress ion below vertex: mandibles with two apical teeth; antennal club formed by 3 apical joints. which are much longer than preceding joints: antennal scrobes well developed reaching up to length of scape: scape falls l/5th short or its length of head; eyes lateral, placed below mid-line of head; frontal carinae covering bases of antennae diverging posteriorly extending feebly up to upper margin of eyes; clypeus with anterior margin incised in middle, dentate, posterior margin extending in between frontal carinae: lateral margin of clypeus with pit in front of antennal insertions; clypeus with strong carina in middle; a pit or depression present above clypeal carina; small tubercle precedes this pit towards irons; whole of head rugulose, area between rugae and in scrobes finely punctate: mandibles finely punctured; covered with long hair all over.
Alitrunk, Petiole, and Postpetiole: Pronotum with small lateral tubercles, convex: promesonotal suture indistinct; mesonotum with transverse ridge: metanotal groove broad and shallow; propodeum below the level of pro-mesonotum; propodea( spines with acute apex, long, erect: lateral side of propodeum with longitudinal depression, below spiracle; petiole with small triangular appendage anteriorly; petiole rectangular seen from front, anterior margin diverging dentate, upper margin notched with indistinct emargination; postpetiole oval, with blunt lateral margins, broader than long (2: 1); petiole and postpetiole, l:2; whole of alitrunk transversely rugose, area between rugae finely punctate; propodeal declivity with indistinct rugae, punctate; petiole with few transverse rugae at upper margin, punctate; post-petiole finely punctate; alitrunk, petiole, post-petiole, legs with fine long hairs.
Gaster: Oval, finely punctured from base to apex; covered with hairs. Head and gaster dark reddish brown; head with a light reddish spot at anterior margin below eyes extending towards clypeus; alitrunk, petiole, post-petiole light reddish brown; mandibles reddish; antennae, legs pale yellowish red.
Paratype Minor: Length: 3.33 mm; Head length 0.58 mm; Head width: 0.66 mm; Scape length: 1 mm; Scape index: 151.51; Eye diameter: 0.18 mm; Pronotal width: 0.49 mm; Alitrunk length: 1.33 mm; Cephalic index: 113.7.
Head oval; mandibles with 3rd tooth smaller than 4th; scape long, extending well beyond the top of head by more than half of its length; eyes placed above the mid-line of head; pronotum with distinct truncate impression; tubercles distinct: propodeal spines like major, but smaller; petiole without appendage; head with rugae between eyes and frontal carinae; propodeum with transverse rugae at anterior margin; head, alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole finely punctured: head and gaster black; alitrunk, petiole, post-petiole yellowish-brown, antennae pale yellow, mandibles light brown; covered with long hairs; rest like major.
Type Material
Holotype: Worker (Major): India, Terrace, Himachal Pradesh; 412 Mtrs, 5.VL2001; Bharti, H. Paratypes: 5 majors, 10 minors with same data as of holotype.
Etymology
Species is named after its type locality, Terrace, Himachal Pradesh.
References
- Bharti, H. 2001. Two new species of Pheidole Westwood (Myrmicinae: Formicidae: Hymenoptera) from India. J. Entomol. Res. (New Delhi) 25(3): 243-247. (page 243, described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bharti H. 2001. Two new species of Pheidole Westwood (Myrmicinae: Formicidae: Hymenoptera) from India. Journal of Entomological Research (New Delhi) 25: 243-247.