Pheidole cervicornis

Aside from one nest collected from beneath a stone by Wilson, Pheidole cervicornis has only been recorded from stray foragers collected from the ground, in leaf litter, on logs, and in logs. It is the most widely collected species of the group, occurring along the northern coast of New Guinea, and also occupies the lowest elevation range (30–800 m). The species also appears to be more tolerant of disturbance than its close relatives, and has been collected in secondary and disturbed forest habitats. (Sarnat et al. 2016)

Identification
Sarnat et al. (2016) - Pheidole cervicornis, known only from the minor worker subcaste, is the most distinct member of its eponymous group. The minor workers are the only members of the group which have bifurcated pronotal spines. They are also immediately recognizable by the thickly crenulated rugulae on the head and mesosoma. Additionally, the minor worker has a more circular head with a broad, weakly emarginated posterior margin (vs. elongate head with a narrow and flat posterior margin), and all the limbs are relatively shorter. There is some variation in color between specimens collected from western New Guinea (darker and have a contrasting white spot on their gaster), and eastern New Guinea (lighter and lacking white spot).We consider this infraspecific variation until additional collections prove otherwise.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  cervicornis. Pheidole cervicornis Emery, 1900c: 322, pl. 8, fig. 25 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in P. (Pheidolacanthinus): Emery, 1921f: 82; Donisthorpe, 1947b: 174.

Worker
Sarnat et al. (2016) - Major Unknown.

Minor HW 0.58–0.64, HL 0.58–0.67, SL 0.61–0.67, FL 0.67–0.78, EL 0.10–0.11, ML 0.76–0.87, PSL2 0.29–0.37, PSL3 0.38–0.47, PeL 0.11–0.35, PeW 0.07–0.09, PpW 0.14–0.17, CI 94–101, SI 101–112. Most dark reddish brown with basal third of first gastral tergite a strongly contrasting white; at least one population from eastern New Guinea a uniform light reddish brown to dark reddish brown and lacking contrasting white portion of gaster. Head ovoid, approximately as wide as long. Posterior head margin relatively broad and flat to weakly concave. Nuchal carinae not visible in full face view. Antennal scapes with erect hairs, distinctly surpassing posterior head margin. Frontal carinae distinct and extending past eye level. Mesosoma with extremely long spines on the pronotum and propodeum, and shorter spines on the mesonotum. Pronotal armament begins as thick basal trunk that diverges into two long anterolaterally pointed prongs. Mesonotal spines approximately eye-length; directed posterolaterally and upturned. Propodeal spines fused basally into thick upright trunk before diverging; strongly bifurcate. Dorsal surface of propodeal spines modified into elongate, sharply margined concavities. Petiole very elongate. Petiolar node acuminate. Dorsal head surface opaque and strongly sculptured. Crenulated longitudinal rugulae become reticulated towards posterior head margin; interspaces strongly punctured. Mandibles weakly striate. Clypeus sculptured. Promesonotal dorsum with crenulated rugae traversing anterior portion and thick longitudinal rugae covering remaining portion. Waist and gaster entirely smooth and shining.

Relatively short-limbed species.

Type Material
Sarnat et al. (2016) - New Guinea, Lemien [= Aitape, Papua New Guinea] (L. Biró), 1 syntype worker examined.