Key to the Pheidole of North Vietnam
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This worker key is based on: Eguchi, K. 2008. A revision of Northern Vietnamese species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Zootaxa. 1902:1-118. PDF
The following key to species includes Pheidole indica which is widely distributed in East, Southeast and South Asia but has not yet been found in Northern Vietnam.
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1
- Major & minor: apical 4 segments of antenna enlarged or just elongate. . . . . . 2
- Major & minor: apical 3 segments of antenna enlarged or just elongate. . . . . . 3
2
return to couplet #1
- Minor: petiole usually 0.85–1.0 times as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium); hairs on promesonotal dome rather dense . . . . . Pheidole gatesi
 Head of Pheidole gatesi worker |
 Profile of Pheidole gatesi worker |
- Minor: petiole usually less than 0.85 times as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium); hairs on promesontal dome rather sparse . . . . . Pheidole smythiesii
 Head of Pheidole smythiesii worker |
 Profile of Pheidole smythiesii worker |
3
return to couplet #1
- Major: hypostoma in the middle having an extremely developed median process, but nearly or completely lacking submedian processes; frontal carina well developed, partly overhanging antennal scrobe . . . . . Pheidole tjibodana
 Head of Pheidole tjibodana worker |
 Profile of Pheidole tjibodana worker |
- Major: hypostoma in the middle lacking any process, or having 2 processes (submedian processes only) or 3 processes (both median and submedian processes), but never dominated by a single stout median process; condition of frontal carina variable. . . . . . 4
4
return to couplet #3
- Minor: frons and vertex punctured strongly and densely, and often overlain by weak reticulation . . . . . 5
- Minor: frons and vertex smooth or only weakly sculptured (rugose, rugoso-punctate or rugoso-reticulate), but neither punctured strongly nor densely . . . . . 10
5
return to couplet #4
- Minor: promesonotal dome with a conspicuous prominence or mound on its posterior slope. Major: dorsum of vertexal lobe bearing a few standing hairs among very short appressed background hairs . . . . . Pheidole capellinii
 Head of Pheidole capellinii worker |
 Profile of Pheidole capellinii worker |
- Minor: promesonotal dome at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope. Major: dorsum of vertexal lobe bearing many standing or subdecumbent hairs . . . . . 6
6
return to couplet #5
- Major: frontal carina well developed, partly overhanging antennal scrobe . . . . . Pheidole colpigaleata
 Head of Pheidole colpigaleata worker |
 Profile of Pheidole colpigaleata worker |
- Major: frontal carina absent or inconspicuous (present just as rugulae) . . . . . 7
7
return to couplet #6
- Minor: promesonotal spine reduced to a small dent . . . . . Pheidole foveolata
 Head of Pheidole foveolata worker |
 Profile of Pheidole foveolata worker |
- Minor: promesonotal spine moderately or well developed . . . . . 8
8
return to couplet #7
- Minor: lateral face of promesonotal dome largely smooth and shining; mediodorsal part of the dome dimly punctured, smooth with several rugulae, or sometimes strongly rugoso-reticulate, but never punctured densely . . . . . Pheidole zoceana
 Head of Pheidole zoceana worker |
 Profile of Pheidole zoceana worker |
- Minor: dorsal and lateral faces of promesonotal dome entirely and densely punctured (the punctuation often overlain sparsely by weak rugulae). . . . . . 9
9
return to couplet #9
- Minor: antennal scape exceeding posterior margin of head by less than the half length of antennal segment II, or not exceeding the posterior margin; maximal diameter of eye longer than antennal segment X . . . . . Pheidole parva
 Head of Pheidole parva worker |
 Profile of Pheidole parva worker |
- Minor: antennal scape exceeding posterior margin of head by the half length of antennal segment II or more; maximal diameter of eye as long as or shorter than antennal segment X . . . . . Pheidole rabo
 Head of Pheidole rabo worker |
 Profile of Pheidole rabo worker |
10
return to couplet #4
- Major: dorsum of vertexal lobe smooth and shining, or at most shagreened or very weakly rugoso-punctate . . . . . 11
- Major: dorsum of vertexal lobe strongly sculptured: rugose, rugoso-reticulate or reticulate, often with enclosures/interspaces densely punctured . . . . . 15
11
return to couplet #10
- Major: hypostoma in the middle at most with a pair of very small submedian processes (median process absent) . . . . . Pheidole megacephala
 Head of Pheidole megacephala worker |
 Profile of Pheidole megacephala worker |
- Major: hypostoma in the middle with conspicuous submedian processes and usually (but not always) a median process. . . . . . 12
12
return to couplet #11
- Major: body very large (HW>2.00 mm) . . . . . Pheidole magna
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 Profile of Pheidole magna worker |
- Major: body small to medium (HW<2.00 mm). . . . . . 13
13
return to couplet #12
- Major: petiole at most a little longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole relatively massive . . . . . Pheidole vieti
 Head of Pheidole vieti worker |
 Profile of Pheidole vieti worker |
- Major: petiole distinctly longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive. . . . . . 14
14
return to couplet #13
- Major: head relatively narrow (CI=91 or <91); promesonotal dome at most with an inconspicuous mound on its posterior slope . . . . . Pheidole vulgaris (in part - also #29)
 Head of Pheidole vulgaris worker |
 Profile of Pheidole vulgaris worker |
- Major: head relatively broad (CI>>91); promesonotal dome usually (but not always) with a low prominence or mound on its posterior slope . . . . . Pheidole fervida
 Head of Pheidole fervida worker |
 Profile of Pheidole fervida worker |
15
return to couplet #10
- Major: body very large (HW > 2.7 mm; FL > 2.1 mm) . . . . . Pheidole dugasi
 Head of Pheidole dugasi worker |
 Profile of Pheidole dugasi worker |
- Major: body small to large (HW < 2.3 mm; FL < 1.8 mm). . . . . . 16
16
return to couplet #15
- Major: petiole with a large lobate subpetiolar process . . . . . Pheidole tumida
 Head of Pheidole tumida worker |
 Profile of Pheidole tumida worker |
- Major: petiole without a large lobate subpetiolar process (but often with a longitudinal carina or ridge ventrally) . . . . . 17
17
return to couplet #16
- Major: postpetiole massive; petiole usually as long as or shorter than postpetiole (excluding helcium) . . . . . 18
- Major: postpetiole not massive; petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium). . . . . . 21
18
return to couplet #17
- Major: frontal carina absent . . . . . Pheidole fortis
 Head of Pheidole fortis worker |
 Profile of Pheidole fortis worker |
- Major: frontal carina conspicuous . . . . . 19
19
return to couplet #18
- Major: dorsum of head bearing sparse standing setae which are much longer and distinctly thicker than background hairs (many short deccumbent-suberect hairs) . . . . . Pheidole noda
 Head of Pheidole noda worker |
 Profile of Pheidole noda worker |
- Major: dorsum of head bearing sparse long standing hairs which are mostly indistinguishable from shorter and thinner background hairs. . . . . . 20
20
return to couplet #19
- Minor: humeral area of promesonotal dome strongly rugose and often armed with a low humeral prominence . . . . . Pheidole rugithorax
 Head of Pheidole rugithorax worker |
 Profile of Pheidole rugithorax worker |
- Minor: humeral area of promesonotal dome neither strongly rugose nor armed with a humeral prominence . . . . . Pheidole laevithorax
 Head of Pheidole laevithorax worker |
 Profile of Pheidole laevithorax worker |
21
return to couplet #17
- Major: hypostoma with conspicuous submedian processes, and usually (but not always) with a conspicuous median process. . . . . . 22
- Major: hypostoma at most with an inconspicuous median and inconspicuous submedian processes . . . . . 30
22
return to couplet #21
- Minor: preoccipital carina conspicuous as a collar. Major: promesonotum in lateral view usually with a low to conspicuous prominence or mound on its posterior slope. . . . . . 23
- Minor: dorsal part of preoccipital carina at most weakly present or completely absent. Major: promesonotum in lateral view at most with an inconspicuous prominence or mound on its posterior slope. . . . . . 25
23
return to couplet #22
- Major: submedian processes of hypostoma well developed, much higher than median process (median process inconspicuous); vertexal lobes in full-face view relatively widely separated from each other . . . . . Pheidole indosinensis
 Head of Pheidole indosinensis worker |
 Profile of Pheidole indosinensis worker |
- Major: submedian processes of hypostoma moderately developed, at most a little higher than median process; vertexal lobes in full-face view relatively close to each other. . . . . . 24
24
return to couplet #23
- Minor: the longest axis of eye having 8–9 ommatidia; head behind eyes in full-face view rather strongly produced posteriad . . . . . Pheidole elongicephala (in part - also #33)
 Head of Pheidole elongicephala worker |
 Profile of Pheidole elongicephala worker |
- Minor: the longest axis of eye having 6–7 ommatidia; head behind eyes in full-face view moderately produced posteriad . . . . . Pheidole ochracea (in part - also #33)
 Head of Pheidole ochracea worker |
 Profile of Pheidole ochracea worker |
25
return to couplet #22
- Major: head in lateral view rather strongly impressed on vertex; frontal carina rather conspicuous. . . . . . 26
- Major: head in lateral view rather weakly or not impressed on vertex; frontal carina
inconspicuous or almost absent. . . . . . 28
26
return to couplet #25
- Minor: propodeal spine reduced to a small dent . . . . . Pheidole pieli (in part - also #28)
 Head of Pheidole pieli worker |
 Profile of Pheidole pieli worker |
- Minor: propodeal spine distinctly larger than a small dent. . . . . . 27
27
return to couplet #26
- Minor: dorsum of head from frons to vertex sparsely sculptured with weak longitudinal rugulae; posteriormost part of vertex and dorsolateral face of head weakly sculptured by rugulae, rugoso-reticulation and/or rugoso-punctation. Major: longitudinal rugulae on frons rather strong . . . . . Pheidole hongkongensis
 Head of Pheidole hongkongensis worker |
 Profile of Pheidole hongkongensis worker |
- Minor: head entirely smooth. Major: longitudinal rugulae on frons rather weak . . . . . Pheidole taipoana
 Head of Pheidole taipoana worker |
 Profile of Pheidole taipoana worker |
28
return to couplet #25
- Minor: propodeal spine reduced to a small dent; preoccipital carina in posterodorsal view absent or evanescent dorsally; the posterior slope of the promesonotal dome rather steep. . . . . . Pheidole pieli (in part - also #26)
| Head of Pheidole pieli worker |
Profile of Pheidole pieli worker |
- Minor: propodeal spine distinctly larger than a small dent; preoccipital carina in posterodorsal view very weak but complete dorsally; the posterior slope of the promesonotal dome rather gentle. . . . . . 29
29
return to couplet #28
- Major: vertex and dorsum of vertexal lobe covered with a weak or interrupted rugose or rugoso-reticulate sculpture which runs obliquely towards posterolateral corner of the lobes . . . . . Pheidole vulgaris (in part - also #14)
| Head of Pheidole vulgaris worker |
Profile of Pheidole vulgaris worker |
- Major: vertex and dorsum of vertexal lobe sculptured with reticulation which never runs obliquely toward posterolateral corner of the lobe . . . . . Pheidole laevicolor
 Head of Pheidole laevicolor worker |
 Profile of Pheidole laevicolor worker |
30
return to couplet #21
- Major: first gastral tergite longitudinally rugose or densely rugoso-punctured over the entire surface, or excluding median portion of the posterior 1/3. . . . . . 31
- Major: first gastral tergite smooth entirely, or weakly sculptured only in its anterior half. . . . . . 32
31
return to couplet #30
- Major: frons densely sculptured with longitudinal rugulae; vertex in lateral view forming a gently sloping (and often weakly impressed) face toward vertexal lobe . . . . . Pheidole planifrons
 Head of Pheidole planifrons worker |
 Profile of Pheidole planifrons worker |
- Major: frons sparsely sculptured with longitudinally rugulae; vertex in lateral view strongly impressed in front of vertexal lobe . . . . . Pheidole yeensis
 Head of Pheidole yeensis worker |
 Profile of Pheidole yeensis worker |
32
return to couplet #30
- Major: vertexal lobes in full-face view narrowly separated from each other. . . . . . 33
- Major: vertexal lobes in full-face view widely separated from each other. . . . . . 34
33
return to couplet #32
- Minor: the longest axis of eye having 8–9 ommatidia; head behind eyes in full-face view rather strongly produced posteriad . . . . . Pheidole elongicephala (in part - also #24)
| Head of Pheidole elongicephala worker |
Profile of Pheidole elongicephala worker |
- Minor: the longest axis of eye having 6–7 ommatidia; head behind eyes in full-face view moderately produced posteriad . . . . . Pheidole ochracea (in part - also #24)
| Head of Pheidole ochracea worker |
Profile of Pheidole ochracea worker |
34
return to couplet #32
- Major: propodeal spine narrowly based and slightly curved apically. . . . . . 35
- Major: propodeal spine broadly based and not curved apically. . . . . . 36
35
return to couplet #34
- Major: posterior margin of head in full-face view shallowly concave. Minor: median part of clypeus smooth, without median longitudinal carina . . . . . Pheidole fervens
 Head of Pheidole fervens worker |
 Profile of Pheidole fervens worker |
- Major: posterior margin of head in full-face view deeply concave. Minor: median part of clypeus a zigzag or ramified (but rarely straight) median carina which is usually accompanied with weak rugulae . . . . . Pheidole plagiaria (in part - also #36)
 Head of Pheidole plagiaria worker |
 Profile of Pheidole plagiaria worker |
36
return to couplet #34
- Major: outer surface of foretibia bearing relatively long decumbent-suberect hairs . . . . . Pheidole plagiaria (in part - also #35)
| Head of Pheidole plagiaria worker |
Profile of Pheidole plagiaria worker |
- Major: outer surface of foretibia bearing short decumbent-appressed hairs . . . . . Pheidole indica
 Head of Pheidole indica worker |
 Profile of Pheidole indica worker |
