Pheidole lamellinoda

Described from the Indian mainland, where records suggest that it is rather local. Its occurrence on Socotra is odd. Pheidole lamellinoda has not been found in Arabia and has not been reported as an introduced species elsewhere (Collingwood et al. 2004, Sharaf et al., 2017). No ecological or biological information is available (Sharaf et al., 2007).

Identification
Collingwood et al. (2004) - The presence of a ventral forward-directed translucent lobe on the petiole of the major workers characterises the species. Minor workers, lacking this character, may be difficult to tell apart from several congeners, including Pheidole indica, which does have a distinctly lower postpetiolar node.

Sharaf et al. (2017) - Major worker. Anterior cephalic dorsum striated; posterior half smooth and shining; posterior margin of head strongly concave; eyes small with 10 ommatidia in the longest row; metanotal groove a strongly depressed U-shape; propodeal spines short and acute; petiolar peduncle short; postpetiole massive and glabrous in profile and more than twice broader than long in dorsal view. Head reddish yellow, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole yellow, gaster brownish yellow.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Socotra Archipelago, Yemen. Oriental Region: India.

Worker
minor

Nomenclature

 *  lamellinoda. Pheidole lamellinoda Forel, 1902c: 166 (s.), 186 (w.q.m.) INDIA. [Also described as new by Forel, 1902f: 538.]

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Forel A. 1902. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part IX. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 520-546.
 * Tiwari R. N. 1997. Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 441-451 in: Zoological Survey of India; Director (ed.) 1997. Fauna of Delhi. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, vi + 903 pp.