Pheidole zoceana

This species occurs along forest edges in hilly and mountainous areas, and nests in the soil.

Identification
Eguchi (2008) - This species is distinguished among Indo-Chinese species by the combination of the following characteristics: in the major frontal carina absent or inconspicuous (present just as rugulae); in the major median and submedian processes of hypostoma conspicuous; in the major and minor promesonotal dome in lateral view at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; in the minor dorsum of head punctured; in the minor lateral face of promesonotal dome largely smooth; in the minor propodeal spine elongate-triangular.

The major of P. zoceana is morphologically very similar to that of Pheidole parva Mayr and Pheidole rabo Forel, but the minor of the former is distinguished from that of the latter two in which promesonotal dome is punctured entirely.

Distribution
Known from Vietnam, China and Thailand.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  zoceana. Pheidole nodgii var. zoceana Santschi, 1925f: 83 (s.w.) CHINA (name misspelled as noggii). Raised to species: Eguchi, Yamane & Zhou, 2007: 280. See also: Eguchi, 2008: 110.

Worker
Eguchi (2008) - Major (n=4). — HL 1.09–1.20 mm; HW 0.93–1.12 mm; CI 85–93; SL 0.44–0.53 mm; SI 47–49; FL 0.65–0.67 mm; FI 59–70. Minor (n=4). — HL 0.44–0.52 mm; HW 0.38–0.46 mm; CI 86–91; SL 0.41–0.46 mm; SI 97–108; FL 0.44–0.50 mm; FI 105–116.

Major — Head in lateral view not or weakly impressed on vertex; frons longitudinally rugose; anterior part of vertex longitudinally rugose or reticulate; posterior part of vertex and dorsal and dorsolateral faces of vertexal lobe reticulate; frontal carina absent or inconspicuous (present just as rugulae); antennal scrobe absent; median longitudinal carina of clypeus absent, or present but weak; submedian and lateral processes of hypostoma conspicuous; median process relatively developed but lower than submedian processes; outer surface of mandible (excluding area around the base) smooth or dimly rugose, sparsely bearing (very) short appressed hairs; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye longer than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome in lateral view at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; humerus of the dome weakly produced laterad; the dome at the humeri a little broader than or almost as broad as at the bottom. Petiole much longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive. First gastral tergite smooth and shining except punctured area around its articulation with postpetiole, or rugoso-punctrued largely.

Minor — Dorsum of head punctured, and often overlain by weak rugoso-reticulation; preoccipital carina inconspicuous or absent dorsally; median part of clypeus smooth or weakly rugoso-reticulate; median longitudinal carina very weak to weak, or absent; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape usually exceeding posterior margin of head by the half length of antennal segment II or more; maximal diameter of eye almost as long as antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome in lateral view at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope; mediodorsal part of the dome variable in sculpture, dimly punctured to smooth sometimes with several rugulae, or rugoso-reticulate but never punctured densely; lateral face of the dome largely smooth; humeral area of the dome rugoso-reticulate or rugoso-punctate, in dorso-oblique view not or weakly produced; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum punctured, or sometimes smooth partly; propodeal spine elongate-triangular. Petiole much longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive.

Type Material
Eguchi (2008) - Syntypes: 3 majors & 7 minors, “Chine, Zo-ce, V. Piel, 19.7.24” [China],, examined.