Key to Pheidole roosevelti-group minors

This worker key is based on: Sarnat, E. M. 2008. A taxonomic revision of the Pheidole roosevelti-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Fiji. Zootaxa 1767:1-36.

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1

• Propodeal spines simple, evenly tapering to a single straight acuminate point without becoming bifurcate or angulate apically; mesonotal process truncated into a blunt process without lamellate or distinct posterior margin; head as broad as long, scapes shorter, metafemur shorter (CI 0.98–1.03, SL 0.77–0.85, FL 0.80–0.91, n = 10) . . . . . Pheidole simplispinosa

• Propodeal spines modified apically with bifurcate or angulate tip, but never evenly tapering to a single straight acuminate point; mesonotal process with lamellate or acute posterior margin; head longer than broad, scapes longer, metafemur longer (CI 0.87–0.96, SL 0.97–1.66, n = 51) . . . . . 2

2

return to couplet #1

• Head, in full face view, smooth and shining above level of eyes; promesonotum, in dorsal view, smooth and shining . . . . . 3

• Head, in full face view, rugose to rugoreticulate above level of eyes; promesonotum, in dorsal view, transversely rugose to rugoreticulate . . . . . 5

3

return to couplet #2

• Head venter, in profile, with genal carinae modified into elevated flanges; mesonotal process, in dorsal view, strongly attenuated; head, in full face view, oval shaped without posterolateral corners forming obtuse angles; propodeal spines with dorsal edge approximately as long as anterior edge (PSI 0.87–1.13, n = 8); color of petiole, postpetiole and gaster distinctly lighter than mesosoma and head . . . . . Pheidole uncagena

• Head venter, in profile, with genal carinae either indistinct or forming a collar around foramen, but never modified into elevated flanges; mesonotal process, in dorsal view, broad; head, in full face view, subquadrate with posterolateral corners forming obtuse angles; propodeal spines with dorsal edge either distinctly shorter than anterior edge (PSI 0.29–0.77, n = 8) or distinctly longer than anterior edge (PSI 1.46–1.71, n = 9); color of petiole, postpetiole and gaster either lighter or same as mesosoma and head . . . . . 4

4

return to couplet #3

• Propodeal spines with dorsal edge distinctly longer than anterior edge (PSI 1.46–1.71, n = 9) posterior of head strongly pinched dorsoventrally, appearing flattened in profile and shield-like in full face view; color of petiole, postpetiole and gaster distinctly lighter than mesosoma and head; scapes longer, metafemur longer (SL 1.21–1.27, FL 1.58–1.66, n = 9) . . . . . Pheidole pegasus

• Propodeal spines with dorsal edge distinctly shorter than anterior edge (PSI 0.29–0.77, n = 8); posterior of head weakly pinched dorsoventrally, but not appearing flattened in profile or a shield-like in full face view; color of petiole, postpetiole and gaster same as mesosoma and head; scapes shorter, metafemur shorter (SL 0.99–1.06, FL 1.12–1.23, n = 8) . . . . . Pheidole colaensis

5

return to couplet #2

• Head venter smooth and shining; in profile, genal carinae inconspicuous . . . . . Pheidole furcata

• Head venter sculptured; strongly produced genal carinae present . . . . . 6

6

return to couplet #5

• Head, in full face view, with strongly branching network of longitudinal and transverse rugae; spaces between head rugoreticulum strongly foveolate; pronotum, in dorsal view, rugoreticulate; mesonotal process, in dorsal view, broadly lamellate and with a medially excised posterior margin . . . . . Pheidole roosevelti

• Head, in full face view, with discontinuous longitudinal rugae that branch occasionally, but become rugoreticulate only on posterolateral corners of head; spaces between head rugae smooth and shining; pronotum, in dorsal view, shining with transverse rugae; mesonotal process, in dorsal view, narrowly lamellate with flat to weakly concave posterior margin . . . . . Pheidole bula