Pheidole laevicolor

This species occurs from forest edges to well-developed forests and nests in the soil (Eguchi et al. 2004, Eguchi 2006). Majors serve as repletes (Eguchi 2008).

Identification
Eguchi (2008) - This species is characterized among Indo-Chinese species by the combination of the following characteristics: in the major dorsal and lateral faces of head and promesonotal dome smooth and shining; in the major vertex and dorsal and lateral faces of vertexal lobe reticulate, with enclosures weakly punctured; in the major hypostoma in the middle with a conspicuous median process and a pair of conspicuous submedian processes; in the major and minor promesonotal dome at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope.

It is very similar to Pheidole taipoana Wheeler, but distinguished from the latter which has the following characteristics in the major: impression on vertex in lateral view deep; area in front of a transverse impression on vertex sparsely sculptured with weak longitudinal rugulae, with interspaces smooth and shining (see also Eguchi 2006).

Distribution
Known from N. Vietnam.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Vietnam.

Nomenclature

 *  laevicolor. Pheidole laevicolor Eguchi, 2006: 123, figs. (s.w.) VIETNAM. See also: Eguchi, 2008: 46.

Worker
Eguchi (2008) - Major (data from the original description, but FL was erroneously given as “0.86–0.76” in the original description). — HL 1.06–1.20 mm; HW 0.98–1.08 mm; CI 90–92; SL 0.49–0.55 mm; SI 50–52; FL 0.68–0.76 mm; FI 67–72. Minor (data from the original description). — HL 0.50–0.58 mm; HW 0.42–0.50 mm; CI 84–88; SL 0.47– 0.58 mm; SI 108–116; FL 0.49–0.62 mm; FI 117–124.

Major — Head in lateral view weakly or hardly impressed on vertex; frons longitudinally rugose; vertex and dorsal and lateral facecs of vertexal lobe reticulate, with enclosures weakly punctured; frontal carina very weak or inconspicuous (present just as rugulae); antennal scrobe inconspicuous; clypeus at most with an inconspicuous median longitudinal carina; median, submedian and lateral processes of hypostoma conspicuous; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye a little longer than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; humerus weakly produced laterad; the dome at the humeri usually as broad as or a little broader than at the bottom (but sometime a little narrower than at the bottom). Petiole much longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive. First gastral tergite weakly punctured around its articulation with postpetiole, and shagreened to smooth in the remainder.

Minor — Dorsum of head smooth and shining; preoccipital carina complete, but usually very weak dorsally; median part of clypeus smooth and shining, without a median longitudinal carina; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape exceeding posterior margin of head at least by the half length of antennal segment II; maximal diameter of eye almost as long as or a little longer than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome largely smooth and shining, with one or several weak or inconspicuous transverse rugulae anterodorsally, in lateral view at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; humerus in dorso-oblique view not or hardly produced laterad; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum weakly or dimly punctured; propodeal spine elongate-triangular. Petiole (much) longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); post-petiole not massive.

Type Material
Eguchi (2008) - Holotype: major, “Tam Dao N.P., 21°27’N, 105°38’E, ca. 1000 m alt., Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, Eg01-VN-130”, IEBR, examined; paratypes: 14 majors & 15 minors, same data as holotype, (IEBR,, , , FSKU & ACEG, examined.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Eguchi K. 2006. Six new species of Pheidole Westwood from North Vietnam (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 113:115-131
 * Eguchi K. 2008. A revision of Northern Vietnamese species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Zootaxa 1902: 1-118.
 * Eguchi K., S. Yamane, and S.Y. Zho. 2007. Taxonomic revision of the Pheidole rinae Emery complex. Sociobiology 50 (1): 275-284.
 * Eguchi K.; Bui T. V.; Yamane S. 2011. Generic synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), part I  Myrmicinae and Pseudomyrmecinae. Zootaxa 2878: 1-61.
 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128