Pheidole duneraensis

The types were collected from a soil nest.

Identification
Bharti (2001) - The species P. duneraensis is somewhat allied to Pheidole malinsii and Pheidole terraceensis; but can be easily separated from both. From P. malinsii as; propodeum smooth and shining in malinsii; densely punctured in P. duneraensis; petiole appendage with a spine in malinsii; without spine in duneraensis; gaster longitudinally striate in basal half in malinsii; but densely punctured in basal half and finely punctured in rest of it in duneraensis. P. duneraensis can also be separated from P. terraceensis as; clypeal incision ending into acute teeth in terraceensis; blunt teeth in duneraensis; propodeal spines long in terraceensis; short in duneraensis; alitrunk rugulose along with fine punctures in terraceensis; but densely punctured without rugae in duneraensis. Both species differ remarkably in measurement indices, discussed in text, apart from other differences.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  duneraensis. Pheidole duneraensis Bharti, 2001: 245, figs. 6-10 (s.w.) INDIA.

Worker
Holotype Major: Length : 4.66 mm; Head length: 1.66 mm; Head width; 1.5 mm; Scapc length: 1.33 mm; Scape index: 88.8; Eye diameter: 0.24 mm; Pronotal width: 0.83 mm; Alitrunk length: 1.66 mm: Cephalic index: 90.36; Mandibular index: 40.16.

Head: Almost as long as broad, narrowing anteriorly; mandibles with two apical teeth, with strong curving dentate inner margin; antenna! club formed by apical 3 joints, which are longer than preceding joints; antenna! scrobes distinct up to length of scape; scape short by l/3rd of its length of head: eyes slightly below mid-line of head, piaced more towards front; frontal carinae diverging posteriorly; clypeus incised anteriorly with blunt denticles, posteriorly extending in between frontal carinae; clypeus carinate in middle; head rugulosc, area between rugae and in scrobes densely punctured; mandibles finely punctured.

Alitrunk, Petiole and Post-Petiole: Pronotum with blunt large tubercles; promesonotal suture obsolete; mcsonotum with faint transverse ridge; metanotal groove narrow, low lying and deep; propodeal spines short and blunt; petiole with short semi-transparent appendage; petiole rectangular seen from front, anterior margin bluntly dentate; upper margin slightly emarginate with indistinct lateral denticles; post-petiole with blunt lateral margins, broader than long (0.8: 1.5): petiole and postpetiole, 0.75:1.5: pronotum with transverse rugae anteriorly, rest of alitrunk: petiole, postpetiole very densely punctured.

Gaster: Oval. first tergite very densely and remaining tergites finely punctured.

Head, anterior part of alitrunk (pronotum, mesonotum): postpetiole; gaster almost black: remaining dark reddish brown.

Paratype Minor: Length: 3 mm; Head length 0.66 mm; Head width: 0.60 mm; Scape length: 1.13 mm; Scape index: 188.3; Eye diameter : 0.16 mm; Pronotal width : 0.41 mm; Alitrunk : 1.29 mm: Cephalic index: 90.90.

Head oval posteriorly, straightening up anteriorly; mandibles with 3rd tooth reduced: scape long, extending beyond top of head by more than half of its length: eyes slightly above mid-line of head: pronotum rounded above: propodeal spines small and acute: propodeum with flat anterior portion; petiole triangular without appendaga; postpetiole oval; head finely punctured; alitrunk densely punctured with few irregular striations; petiole, postpetiole, gaster finely punctured; rest like major except dark reddish brown colour replaced by yellowish brown.

Type Material
Holotype: Worker (Major); India, Dunera, Himachal Pradesh; 700 Mtrs.; 8.III.2000; Bharti, H. Paratypes: 8 majors, 9 minors with same data as of holotype.

Etymology
Species is named after its type locality, Dunera, Himachal Pradesh.