Pheidole variabilis

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  variabilis. Pheidole variabilis Mayr, 1876: 103 (s.w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA.
 * Current subspecies: nominal plus aliena, croceithorax, latigena, mediofusca, ocior, ocyma, parvispina, praedo, redunca, rugosula.
 * rugocciput. Pheidole variabilis var. rugocciput Forel, 1902h: 423 (s.w.) AUSTRALIA.
 * Junior synonym of variabilis: Heterick, 2021: 19.

Taxonomic Notes
Heterick (2021): Comparison of AntWeb images of major and minor worker syntypes of Pheidole variabilis rugocciput and P. variabilis reveal no difference between these two ants. Pheidole variabilis rugocciput therefore becomes a junior synonym under the latter name in this work. The ant designated by the unavailable quadrinomial ‘Pheidole variabilis rugocciput atrophispina’, however, is a distinct species not found in WA.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Wheeler, William Morton. 1927. The Ants of Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 62(4): 121-153