Pheidole ochracea

This species usually occurs in forests and woody habitats, and nests in the soil and sometimes in abandoned termite mounds. This species is preyed upon by Aenictus dentatus.

Identification
Pheidole ochracea, Pheidole elongicephala and Pheidole binghamii are morphologically very similar to each other. Differences between P. ochracea and P. elongicephala are given under the remarks of P. elongicephala. Difference between P. ochracea and P. binghamii are as follows: mound on the posterior slope of the promesonotal dome is less developed in the minor of P. ochracea than in that of P. binghamii; body of minor yellowish-brown in the former, but usually brown to dark-brown in the latter. Pheidole ochracea and P. binghamii are sympatric in S. Vietnam. (Eguchi 2008)

Distribution
Known from Vietnam and S. China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Vietnam. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  ochracea. Pheidole ochracea Eguchi, 2008: 63, figs. 17a-h (s.w.) VIETNAM.

Worker
Holotype (major). — HL 1.79 mm; HW 1.61 mm; CI 90; SL 0.98 mm; SI 61; FL 1.31 mm; FI 81. Nontype major (n=4). — HL 1.74–1.89 mm; HW 1.58–1.65 mm; CI 86–92; SL 0.99–1.03 mm; SI 62–63; FL 1.33–1.39 mm; FI 83–85. Minor (n=5, including one paratype minor). — HL 0.72–0.83 mm; HW 0.57–0.66 mm; CI 79–80; SL 0.88–1.00 mm; SI 148–154; FL 0.91–1.06 mm; FI 154–162.

Major — Body deep yellowish-brown or sometimes brown or deep reddish-brown, with paler appendages. Head in lateral view at most weakly impressed on vertex; vertexal lobes in full-face view relatively close to each other; frons and anterior part of vertex longitudinally rugose; posterior part of vertex and dorsum of vertexal lobe reticulate or rugoso-reticulate; clypeus without a median longitudinal carina; frontal carina conspicuous; antennal scrobe very shallow; hypostoma with low or inconspicuous median and low or inconspicuous submedian processes in addition to conspicuous lateral processes; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye (a little) shorter than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome smooth and shining, with transverse rugulae; a conspicuous prominence present on its posterior slope; humerus of the dome not or hardly produced laterad; the dome at the humeri much narrower than at the bottom; mesopleuron and metapleuron weakly punctured, overlain by rugoso-reticulation; propodeal spine narrowly based, usually slightly curved apically. Petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive. First gastral tergite smooth and shining entirely, or rarely shagreened only around its articulation with postpetiole.

Minor — Body yellowish-brown, with paler appendages. Head in full-face view elliptical; frons and vertex smooth and shining, or partly shagreened; median portion of clypeus smooth and shining, without a median longitudinal carina; occipital carina well-developed; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape extending far beyond posterolateral margin of head; maximal diameter of eye much shorter than antennal segment X; 6–7 ommatidia present on the long axis of eye. Promesonotal dome smooth and shining, in lateral view with a low mound on its gentle posterior slope; humerus in dorso-oblique view not raised/produced; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum punctured, often overlain by weak rugulae (sculpure on the lateral face of propodeum often weaker than mesopleuron and metapleuron); propodeal spine elongate-triangular, directing upward. Petiole a little longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive.

Type Material
Holotype: major, S. Cat Tien N.P. (forest along Bird Lake Trail < ca. 160 m alt.), Dong Nai, S. Vietnam (K. Eguchi leg., 14 Oct 2004, colony: Eg04-VN-621) [IEBR], examined; paratypes: 5 majors & 6 minors, same data as holotype (IEBR, , & ACKE), examined.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.
 * Leong C. M., S. F. Shiao, and B. Guenard. 2017. Ants in the city, a preliminary checklist of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Macau, one of the most heavily urbanized regions of the world. Asian Myrmecology 9: e009014.
 * Zryanin V. A. 2011. An eco-faunistic review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In: Structure and functions of soil communities of a monsoon tropical forest (Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam) / A.V. Tiunov (Editor). – M.: KMK Scientific Press. 2011. 277 р.101-124.