Pheidole macclendoni

In western Texas Moody and Francke (1982) discovered two colonies nesting in open soil and one beneath a clump of grass. Winged queens were found by William S. Creighton at Dryden, Texas, on 29 December. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
The majors of this species can be recognized by having a flattened, rugose area located between the frontal lobe and the eye, with large, intrarugal foveolae, and the petiole has a large, prominent lateral spiracle. The head of the major is large, at least 2 millimeters in total length, excluding the mandibles. The pronotum of the major has transverse striae. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Also see the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Evidently scarce, recorded from Arizona, as well as central and western Texas. (Wilson 2003)

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

Habitat
Sandy-gravely desert (Cole, 1957b).

Biology
This species nests in the soil, with the nest marked by a small entrance. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Castes
This species is weakly polymorphic.

Worker
Minor

Images from AntWeb
Major

Images from AntWeb
Additional images can be found here

Nomenclature

 *  macclendoni. Pheidole macclendoni Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 450, pl. 27, fig. 36 (s.w.) U.S.A. See also: Wilson, 2003: 582.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the “bicarinata complex” of the larger pilifera group, comprising Pheidole agricola, Pheidole aurea, Pheidole barbata, Pheidole bicarinata, Pheidole centeotl, Pheidole cerebrosior, Pheidole defecta, Pheidole gilvescens, Pheidole macclendoni, Pheidole macrops, Pheidole marcidula, Pheidole paiute, Pheidole pinealis, Pheidole psammophila, Pheidole xerophila, Pheidole yaqui and Pheidole yucatana, which complex is characterized by the large to very large, forward-set eyes of both castes, especially the minor; and, in the major, the occipital lobes lacking any sculpturing (except in aurea); the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally angulate (cornulate in cerebrosior).

P. macclendoni is distinguished by the presence of a supermajor in addition to the major caste and is further distinguished by the following traits.

Major: long, thin propodeal spine; prominent humeral lobe in dorsal-oblique view; bell-shaped postpetiolar node seen from above.

Supermajor: lacks sculpturing on the posterior half of the head.

Minor: propodeal spines reduced to denticles; humerus subangulate in dorsal-oblique view; very low postpetiolar node in side view;bell-shaped postpetiolar node seen from above.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.50, HL 1.60, SL 0.82, EL 0.26, PW 0.74.
 * Paralectotype supermajor: HW 2.74, HL 2.58, SL 1.02, EL 0.34,. PW (not measured).
 * Paralectotype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.64, SL 0.60, EL 0.18, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: reddish yellow, gaster a slightly contrasting yellowish brown.

Supermajor: concolorous reddish yellow.

Minor: body light brown, appendages a lighter shade of yellowish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: lectotype, major (body and full head), Corsicana, in Navarro Co. near Dallas, Texas. Paralectotype, supermajor (partial head only), Benson, Cochise Co., Arizona. Lower: paralectotype, minor, Laredo, Webb Co., Texas. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
and - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
Eponymous (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Moody J. V., and O. F. Francke. 1982. The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Western Texas Part 1: Subfamily Myrmicinae. Graduate Studies Texas Tech University 27: 80 pp.
 * 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, 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