Pheidole tawauensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Eguchi (2001) - This species is very similar to Pheidole butteli among Indo-Chinese and Indo-Malayan congeners (for the difference between the two, see under P. butteli).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  tawauensis. Pheidole tawauensis Eguchi, 2001b: 119, fig. 50 (s.w.) BORNEO.

Worker
Major (n=4): TL 2.5-2.7 mm, HL 1.23~1.28 mm, HW 1.05-1.08 mm, SL 0.47-0.51 mm, FL 0.69-0.77 mm, CI 83-86, SI 44-49, FI 66-73. Head broadest at about midlength of head (Fig. 50A), in profile not impressed on vertex (Fig. 50B). Hypostoma bearing three median processes, of which medianmost one is inconspicuous. Clypeus without a median longitudinal carina, with anterior margin emarginate medially. Eye situated at about 1/3 distance of head (as measured from the mid-point of a transverse line spanning the anteriormost and posteriormost projecting points, respectively (cf. Fig. 2A)); distance between mandibular insertion and anterior margin of eye 1.7-2.0 times as long as maximal diameter of eye. Frontal carina and antennal scrobe present only around antennal insertion. Frontal lobe relatively developed and erect (Fig. 50B). Antenna with 3-segmented club; scape extending backward to or slightly passing midlength of head; terminal segment 1.0-1.1 times as long as preceding two segments together. Mandible with apical and preapical teeth, and a distinct denticle in front of basal angle. Promesonotum forming a high dome, without any distinct prominence on its posterior declivity (Fig. 50C); each dorsolateral portion of the dome weakly produced. Mesopleuron sometimes divided by a weak transverse impression into two parts, of which lower part is margined dorsally. Propodeal spine triangular, 2-2.5 times as long as diameter of propodeal spiracle. Petiole 1.7-1.9 times as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium); petiolar node in posterior view weakly emarginate at apex. Postpetiole 2.0-2.1 times as broad as petiolar node, in dorsal view strongly angulate laterally.

Frons longitudinally rugose, with enclosures smooth and shining; vertex, and dorsal and lateral faces of occipital lobe weakly rugoso-reticulate, with enclosures weakly punctured and weakly shining; dorsum of promesonotal dome rugose at least partly; anterior and lateral faces of the dome, and lower part of mesopleuron largely smooth and shining; upper part of mesopleuron and large part of lateral face of propodeum weakly punctured and less shining; or whole alitrunk smooth and shining; lateral faces of petiolar pedicel and postpetiole very weakly punctured; dorsa of petiole and postpetiole smooth and shining; first gastral tergite around its articulation with postpetiole weakly punctured. Outer face of mandible sparsely covered with appressed to decumbent hairs, which are 0.03-0.05 mm in length and shorter than distance between piligerous punctures. Body brown to dark brown; antennae and legs lighter than alitrunk.

Minor (n=5): TL 1.6-1.8 mm, HL 0.48-0.53 mm, HW 0.43-0.47 mm, SL 0.47-0.53 mm, AL 0.67-0.72 mm, FL 0.53-0.58 mm, CI 89-90, SI 107-113, FI 122-124. Head in full-face view almost flat medioposteriorly; occipital carina weak but complete (Fig. 50D). Clypeus without median longitudinal carina, with anterior margin in full-face view slightly convex medially. Eye situated just in front of midlength of head; distance between mandibular insertion and anterior margin of eye 1.0-1.1 times as long as maximal diameter of eye. Frontal carina and antennal scrobe present only around antennal insertion. Antenna with 3-segmented club; scape extending beyond posterior border of head by a little more than its 1/5 length; terminal segment 1.0-1.1 times as long as preceding two segments together. Promesonotum convex, without any prominence on its posterior declivity (Fig. 50E). Mesopleuron occasionally divided by a weak transverse impression into two parts. Metanotal groove in profile deep (Fig. 50E). Propodeal spine almost twice as long as diameter of propodeal spiracle. Petiole 1.7-1.8 times as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium); petiolar node in posterior view not emarginate at apex. Postpetiole in dorsal view subhexagonal, 1.8-2.1 times as broad as petiolar node.

Head including clypeus smooth and shining; alitrunk almost smooth and shining; lateral face of petiolar pedicel very weakly punctured; dorsum of petiole, and postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining. Body yellowish-brown to brown.

Type Material
Holotype Major, soil-9 (soil sample), Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, E. Malaysia (Borneo), K. Eguchi leg., 1996, deposited in. Paratypes 2 majors and 7 minors from the same soil sample to which the holotype belongs, deposited in and UMS.