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Pheidole melastomae
| Pheidole melastomae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. melastomae |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole melastomae Wilson, 2003 | |
Hilly rainforest, nesting in myrmecophytic melastomes (Leeanne Tennant-Alonso in Panama and Colombia). Winged males were present in a nest in Colombia in early June and in Panama in early July. (Wilson 2003)
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known from the type locality in Panama and from Colombia (near San José, Chocó, localities in Valle) and Ecuador (Endesa, Pichincha). (Wilson 2003)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 9.25° to -4.1°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Ecuador, Panama (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- melastomae. Pheidole melastomae Wilson, 2003: 451, figs. (s.w.) PANAMA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
DIAGNOSIS A medium-sized, yellow member of the flavens group characterized by a nearly complete absence in major and minor of sculpturing anywhere behind the anterior half of the head, the reduction of the propodeal spine to an obtuse angle, the very small size of the propodeal spiracle, shallow occipital concavity in full-face view, and abundant long pilosity. The major is further distinguished by its overall flattened mesosomal dorsal profile and laterally angulate postpetiole.
Similar species: Pheidole amabilis, Pheidole boliviana, Pheidole mixteca, Pheidole scitula, Pheidole terresi and Pheidole tysoni.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.80, HL 0.84, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.46, SL 0.42, EL 0.06, PW 0.24.
COLOR Major: body mostly clear medium yellow, with dorsum of head and mandibles brownish yellow.
Minor: concolorous light to medium yellow.
Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
PANAMA: Estácion Nusagandi, Comarca de Kuna Yala, 350 m, col. Leeanne Tennant-Alonso. Museum of Comparative Zoology
Etymology
L melastomae, referring to the preferred melastome nesting site.
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 451, fig. major, minor described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.