Pheidole hecate

Nothing is known about the biology of hecate.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
An apparent Jamaican endemic, hecate has been recorded from the following localities on the island: Hardwar Gap, Kingston, Newton, Troy, and southwest side of the main range, Blue Mountains, variously at 600-900 m. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Jamaica.

Nomenclature

 *  hecate. Pheidole (Ceratopheidole) hecate Wheeler, W.M. 1911a: 26 (s.w.) JAMAICA. Combination in Ceratopheidole: Emery, 1922e: 113; in Pheidole: Kempf, 1972a: 183. Senior synonym of bruesi, malevola: Wilson, 2003: 544.
 * malevola. Pheidole (Ceratopheidole) hecate subsp. malevola Wheeler, W.M. 1911a: 27 (s.w.) JAMAICA. Combination in Ceratopheidole: Emery, 1922e: 113; in Pheidole: Kempf, 1972a: 183. Junior synonym of hecate: Wilson, 2003: 544.
 * bruesi. Pheidole (Ceratopheidole) hecate subsp. bruesi Wheeler, W.M. 1917g: 460 (s.w.) JAMAICA. [Unresolved junior primary homonym of bruesi Wheeler, above.] Combination in Ceratopheidole: Emery, 1922e: 113; in Pheidole: Kempf, 1972a: 183. Junior synonym of hecate: Wilson, 2003: 544.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the granulata group (4-segmented antennae), unique in both castes in the very long propodeal spines and completely carinulate mesosoma.

MEASUREMENTS (mrn) Lectotype major: HW 1.20, HL 1.18, SL 0.86, EL 0.20, PW 0.62. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.72, HL 0.78, SL 0.92, EL 0.16, PW 0.48.

COLOR Major: body very dark reddish brown, appendages light to medium brown.

Minor: body blackish brown, appendages medium brown.



'''Figure. Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
JAMAICA: Troy. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
Gr Hecate, goddess of magic and witchcraft. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Gregg R. E. 1950. A new species of Pheidole from the Southwest. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 58: 89-93.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Wheeler W. M. 1917. Jamaican ants collected by Prof. C. T. Brues. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 61: 457-471.
 * Wheeler, William Morton. 1911. Additions to the Ant-Fauna of Jamaica. Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. 30:21-29.
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press