Pheidole constipata

The type series was taken from several colonies found under stones by Wheeler (1908h) at Austin and New Braunfels, Texas. In addition Stefan Cover (unpublished notes) found several colonies and colony fragments nesting under stones at Pedernales Falls State Park, Blanco Co., Texas, in juniper and juniper-oak-mesquite woodland. Winged males were found by W. M. Wheeler on 27 May 1903. This species, if truly local, may be threatened by the advance of dense populations of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) into the Texas hill country. Cover found it only in areas not yet occupied by fire ant colonies. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from the vicinity of Austin and New Braunfels, central Texas. (Wilson 2003)

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

Nomenclature

 *  constipata. Pheidole constipata Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 468 (s.w.q.m.) U.S.A. Subspecies of floridana: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1370. Revived status as species: Wilson, 2003: 402.

Description
From Wilson (2003): An unusual member of the flavens group distinguished from other species of the genus as follows.

Major: yellow; mesosomal pilosity very sparse, consisting mostly of several clavate hairs; similar hairs present on occiput and waist; humerus raised slightly and subangulate; rugoreticula present between each eye and antennal fossa, and on the edges of the humeri; postpetiole from above elliptical.

Minor: mesosomal pilosity very sparse, consisting mostly of several clavate hairs; similar hairs present on occiput and waist; propodeal spines directed backward; postpetiole from above elliptical; head and mesosoma almost entirely foveolate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.72, HL 0.80, SL 0.42, EL 0.12, PW 0.42. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: concolorous reddish yellow.

Minor: mesosoma, waist, and appendages dark yellow; head and gaster yellowish brown.



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

Type Material
TEXAS: Austin, col. W. Wheeler. and - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L constipata, crowded or pressed together, allusion unknown, possibly to the compressed nature of the clavate hairs. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Gregg R. E. 1959. Key to the species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the United States. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 66: 7-48.
 * McDonald D. L., D. R. Hoffpauir, and J. L. Cook. 2016. Survey yields seven new Texas county records and documents further spread of Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Southwestern Entomologist, 41(4): 913-920.
 * O'Keefe S. T., J. L. Cook, T. Dudek, D. F. Wunneburger, M. D. Guzman, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. 2000. The Distribution of Texas Ants. The Southwestern Entomologist 22: 1-92.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 399-485.
 * Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1985. A checklist of Texas ants. Prairie Naturalist 17:49-64.
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press