Pheidole daphne

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Pheidole daphne
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Pheidole
Species: P. daphne
Binomial name
Pheidole daphne
Wilson, 2003

Pheidole daphne inbiocri001230999 p 1 high.jpg

Pheidole daphne inbiocri001230999 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Colonies of daphne are arboricolous, and as such have been collected by insecticidal fogging and Malaise trapping in lowland rainforest (Longino 1997).

Identification

See the description in the nomenclature section.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

The Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 21.3° to 10.35°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Worker

Minor

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole daphne inbiocri001231279 h 1 high.jpgPheidole daphne inbiocri001231279 p 1 high.jpgPheidole daphne inbiocri001231279 d 1 high.jpgPheidole daphne inbiocri001231279 p 4 high.jpgPheidole daphne inbiocri001231279 l 1 high.jpg
Worker. Specimen code inbiocri001231279. Photographer J. Longino, uploaded by University of Utah. Owned by INBio.

Major

Images from AntWeb

Pheidole daphne inbiocri001230999 p 4 high.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code inbiocri001230999. Photographer J. Longino, uploaded by University of Utah. Owned by INBio.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • daphne. Pheidole daphne Wilson, 2003: 404, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

A medium-sized, distinctively bicolorous member of the flavens group, similar to the widespread species Pheidole bilimeki, differing in the major by the laterally angulate (as opposed to spinose) postpetiolar node, limited shagreening on the first gastral tergite, and color (see below); and in the minor by the completely smooth and shiny first gastral tergite.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.90, HL 0.90, SL 0.50, EL 0.12, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.56, SL 0.46, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: head and appendages clear medium yellow, except for an ill-defined light brown circular spot in center of head capsule dorsum; rest of body (mesosoma, waist, gaster) light brown.

Minor: head and gaster light brown, rest of body and appendages medium to dark yellow.


Pheidole daphne Wilson 2003.jpg

Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Type Material

COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia, 50–150 m, col. J. T. Longino. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad

Etymology

Named after Daphne, the nymph in classical mythology who was changed into a laurel tree (reference to the arboricolous habits of the species).

References