Pheidole spininodis

In the central Argentina province of San Luis, Bruch (1916) found “var. pencosensis” in dry scrub, nesting in soil of varying grain and hardness, and once beneath dried cow dung. The nest entrances were circular and surrounded by semicircular banks of excavated earth, and galleries and chambers descended to about 30 cm. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Widespread in northern and central Argentina (Bruch 1916; Kempf 1972b), and also recorded from Rio Grande Do Sul (synonymous P. spielbergi).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.

Nomenclature

 *  spininodis. Pheidole spininodis Mayr, 1887: 591 (s.), 605 (w.) ARGENTINA. Goni, Zolessi & Imai, 1983: 365 (k.). Senior synonym of hohenlohei: Emery, 1906c: 146 (in text); of bruta, lucifuga, pencosensis, solaris, spielbergi: Wilson, 2003: 756.
 * hohenlohei. Pheidole hohenlohei Emery, 1888c: 354 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of spininodis: Emery, 1906c: 146 (in text).
 * spielbergi. Pheidole spielbergi Emery, 1888c: 354 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of spininodis: Wilson, 2003: 756.
 * pencosensis. Pheidole spininodis var. pencosensis Forel, 1914d: 271 (s.w.q.m.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of spininodis: Wilson, 2003: 756.
 * lucifuga. Pheidole spininodis var. lucifuga Santschi, 1923d: 56 (s.w.q.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of spininodis: Wilson, 2003: 756.
 * solaris. Pheidole spininodis var. solaris Santschi, 1929d: 287 (s.w.q.m.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of spininodis: Wilson, 2003: 756.
 * bruta. Pheidole (Pheidole) spininodis var. bruta Santschi, 1934c: 30 (s.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of spininodis: Wilson, 2003: 756.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole exarata, Pheidole excubitor, Pheidole germaini, Pheidole gibba, Pheidole rogeri, Pheidole stulta, Pheidole tristis, Pheidole tristops and Pheidole zoster, distinguished as follows.

Major: large; reddish yellow; postpetiolar node extremely drawn out, wide but short, and spinose; carinulae extend posteriorly to just beyond eye level, and entire rest of body smooth and shiny; head subrectangular; occipital cleft deep, its nadir acute-angular; antennal scapes very short.

Minor: occiput broad, lacking nuchal collar; carinulae reach posteriorly just beyond eye level, and entire remainder of body smooth and shiny; dorsal promesonotal profile semicircular. P. spielbergi of southern Brazil may prove to be a distinct species: the syntype major is smaller than the spininodis lectotype, and the minor larger; the major scape is longer; and the major hind femora are thicker.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 2.32, HL 2.46, SL 0.92, EL 0.26, PW 1.00. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.74, HL 0.76, SL 0.74, EL 0.12, PW 0.46.

COLOR Major: head, mesosoma, and appendages medium reddish yellow; waist and gaster plain medium brown.

Minor: body plain medium brown, appendages light brown.



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

Type Material
ARGENTINA: Jandil, Buenos Aires. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L spininodis, thorny knot, referring to the spinose postpetiole of the major. (Wilson 2003)