Pheidole elecebra

Wheeler (1904a, 1910b), from an examination of a living host colony and its elecebra guests, concluded that the inquiline behaves like Anergates atratulus of Europe in preventing the host colony from producing new reproductives (queens and males) of its own. Contrary evidence was obtained by Stefan Cover, who rediscovered the species in 1994. One mixed colony he collected near North Cheyenne, Colorado, contained a dealate elecebra queen, many winged elecebra queens, and queen pupae of the parasite, but also abundant host (ceres) minor and major brood, along with 400–600 adult host minors and majors; this combination constitutes virtual proof that a reproducing host queen was also present. A second colony contained beyond 200–300 adult host minors and majors, only adult parasite males and parasite male pupae. This combination suggests the absence of a host queen. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Known from several records in Colorado between 2000 and 2200 m; the preferred habitat is the same as that of its host, that is, primarily pinyon-cedar-oak woodland (Gregg 1963).

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

Caste
This species is a workerless parasite.

Nomenclature

 *  elecebra. Sympheidole elecebra Wheeler, W.M. 1904a: 8, pl. 2, figs. 8-11 (q.m.) U.S.A. Combination in Pheidole: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1370. See also: Wilson, 1984: 328; Wilson, 2003: 576.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A very small member of the pilifera group, a permanent, workerless social parasite of Pheidole ceres, distinguishable at once by the enormous curved, hornlike lateral extensions of the postpetiolar node; otherwise overall normal in appearance for a Pheidole queen.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype queen: HW 0.58, HL 0.60, EL 0.22 (SL and PW not measured).

COLOR Queen: light brown.



'''Figure. Queen. COLORADO: 2.2 km north of North Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, 2200 m, col. Stefan Cover, compared with syntype. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
From Wilson (2003): Manitou, Colorado, 2130 m, col. W. M. Wheeler.

Etymology
L elecebra, freeloaders, a social parasite. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Gregg, R. E. 1963. The Ants of Colorado, With Reference to their Ecology, Taxonomy, and Geographic Distribution. Boulder: U. of Colorado Press, xvi + 792 pp.

Wheeler, W. M. 1904a. Three new genera of inquiline ants from Utah and Colorado. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 20: 1–17.

Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: Their Structure, Development and Behavior. New York: Columbia U. Press, xxv + 663 pp.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.

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