Pheidole paiute

In Nevada, George C. and Jeanette N. Wheeler (1986) encountered paiute at 1040–2100 m in cottonwood groves, a triplex scrubland, pinyon-juniper woodland, and in disturbed habitats, nesting mostly under stones but also in open soil, where colonies built craters about 25 mm across. At Deep Canyon, near Palm Springs, California, the same authors found the species in larrea-palo verde scrub and desert, nesting in the soil; in one nest excavated, they found a cache of Oenothera clavaeformis seeds. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
Very similar to Pheidole bicarinata. See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Deserts of Nevada and southern California. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - These myrmecophiles were found in the nests of Pheidole paiute: Pupae of Orasema sp. (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae; det. B.D. Burks), 9 mi. SSW Beatty (Nye Co.) 3,000 ft. Fulgorid nymphs (Homoptera: Fulgoridae), 23 mi. ENE Reno (Storey Co.) 4,200 ft. Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Batuloides rotundicollis (LeC.) and Araeoschizus sulcicollis Horn (det. T.J. Spilman), both in the same nest, 7 mi. SSE Beatty (Nye Co.), 3,000 ft.; Conibiosoma elongatum (Horn) (det. T.J. Spilman), 6 mi. NE Gerlach (Pershing Co.) 3,900 ft.; 24 mi. ENE Reno (Washoe Co.) 4,200 ft.; 14 mi. SSE Yerington (Lyon Co.) 5,100 ft.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  paiute. Pheidole bicarinata subsp. paiute Gregg, 1959: 17 (s.w.) U.S.A. Subspecies of bicarinata: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1367. Raised to species: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973e: 75; Wilson, 2003: 588.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A member of the “bicarinata complex” of the larger pilifera group; for a characterization of the complex, see under bicarinata. P. paiute is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: propodeal spine in side view equilaterally triangular; humerus with a very low denticle in dorsal-oblique view; postpetiolar node laterally angular; sculpturing of head consists of carinulae confined entirely to the part anterior to the level of the posterior margin of the eyes.

Minor: some of the hairs on the promesonotal dorsum are very long; propodeal spines in side view equilaterally triangular.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Paratype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.14, SL 0.54, EL 0.18, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.56, SL 0.48, EL 0.12, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: concolorous dark yellow.

Minor: body brownish yellow, appendages brownish yellow to clear yellow.



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

Type Material
NEVADA: Goldfield, Esmeraldo Co., Mojave Desert, col. William S. Creighton. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
Named after one of the Amerindian peoples of the southwestern United States. (Wilson 2003)