Pheidole magna

This species occurs from relatively open habitats to forests at relatively high altitude (1000 m alt. or higher), and nests in the soil and rotting logs (Eguchi 2006). Majors serve as repletes.

Identification
This species is characterized among Indo-Chinese species by the combination of the following features: in the major vertexal lobe largely smooth and shining; in the major and minor promesonotal dome having a conspicuous prominence on its posterior slope; in the major and minor postpetiole relatively massive. This large-bodied species is similar to Pheidole dugasi Forel, but well distinguished from the latter which has the following characteristics in the major: dorsum of vertexal lobes distinctly rugose; first gastral tergite entirely rugoso-punctured (see also Eguchi 2006).

Distribution
Known from N. Vietnam.

This taxon was described from Vietnam.

Nomenclature

 *  magna. Pheidole magna Eguchi, 2006: 125, figs. (s.w.) VIETNAM. See also: Eguchi, 2008: 52.

Worker
Eguchi (2008) - Major (data from the original description). — HL 2.21–2.39 mm; HW 2.13–2.32 mm; CI 92–99; SL 1.04–1.14 mm; SI 45–51; FL 1.59–1.66 mm; FI 70–75. Minor (data from the original description). — HL 0.87–0.94 mm; HW 0.79–0.90 mm; CI 91–96; SL 0.94– 1.03 mm; SI 113–122; FL 1.12–1.22 mm; FI 134–143.

Major. — Head in lateral view not or very weakly impressed on vertex; frons and vertex longitudinally- obliquely rugose; vertexal lobe largely smooth and shining; frontal carina and antennal scrobe absent; clypeus with a median longitudinal carina which is sometimes reduced into a weak rugula; hypostoma with a low or inconspicuous median and moderately to strongly developed submedian processes; lateral processes present but reduced, much smaller than submedian processes; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye a little longer than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome with a conspicuous prominence on its posterior slope; humerus not or very weakly produced laterad; the dome at the humeri narrower than at the bottom; propodeal spine small. Petiole almost as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole relatively massive. First gastral tergite smooth and shining, often with a weakly punctured area just around its articulation with postpetiole.

Minor. — Head smooth and shining; preoccipital carina complete but weak dorsally; median part of clypeus smooth and shining, with a median longitudinal carina in its anterior half; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape extending far beyond posterolateral margin of head; maximal diameter of eye shorter than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome smooth and shining, in lateral view raised relatively highly in front of a conspicuous prominence/mound on its posterior slope; humerus in dorso-oblique view not produced, or very weakly produced; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum largely punctured weakly. Petiole almost as long as or a little shorter than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole massive.

Type Material
Holotype: major, “Bang Khoang (Site-A: ca. 1700–1800 m alt.), Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam, Eg02-VN-137”, IEBR, examined; paratypes: 34 majors & 35 minors, same data as holotype,, FSKU, IEBR, , & ACEG, examined.