Pheidole gauthieri
| Pheidole gauthieri | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. gauthieri |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole gauthieri Forel, 1901
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
From Wilson (2003): In Costa Rica Longino (1997) found gauthieri in mature wet forest, nesting in dead wood in the low arboreal zone and foraging in the leaf litter and at extrafloral nectaries. A winged queen was present in a nest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, 27 June (W. M. Wheeler).
Contents
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
I have seen material from Guatemala (Tikal), Costa Rica (Osa Peninsula), Panama (localities in the Canal Zone), and Colombia. J. T. Longino (1997) reports it from both the Atlantic and Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. (Wilson 2003)
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality), Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Biology
Castes
Worker
Minor
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.
- gauthieri. Pheidole ursus r. gauthieri Forel, 1901e: 367 (w.) COLOMBIA. Raised to species: Forel, 1912f: 233. Senior synonym of oxymora: Wilson, 2003: 693.
- oxymora. Pheidole gauthieri var. oxymora Forel, 1912f: 233 (s.w.) PANAMA. Junior synonym of gauthieri: Wilson, 2003: 693.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Similar to Pheidole antillana, Pheidole coveri, Pheidole fullerae, Pheidole hetschkoi, Pheidole heyeri and Pheidole napoensis in various traits but easily distinguished as follows.
Major: propodeal spines as long as basal face of propodeum; occiput smooth and shiny; smaller patch of rugoreticulum present laterad to each antennal fossa; loose rugoreticulum present on anterior half of pronotal dorsum but absent on posterior half; postpetiole spinose.
Minor: occiput, sides of head, and entire dorsum of mesosoma rugoreticulate, and almost all of remainder of head and mesosoma variously rugulose or carinulate; propodeal spines as long as basal face of propodeum; occiput narrowed but lacking a nuchal collar.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Major (Panama): HW 2.04, HL 2.12, SL 0.86, EL 0.20, PW 0.94. Lectotype minor: HW 0.80, HL 0.81, SL 0.86, EL 0.16, PW 0.54.
COLOR Major: concolorous light reddish brown.
Minor: head and meso soma light reddish yellow; waist, gaster, and appendages clear dark yellow.
Figure. Upper: syntype, major of synonymous gauthieri var. oxymora (Panama). Lower: lectotype, minor (road from Dibulla to San Antonio, Guajira, Colombia). Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Panama. Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève - as reported in Wilson (2003)
Etymology
Named after A. and C. Gauthier of Colombia, who assisted Forel in his itinerary. (Wilson 2003)
References
- Forel, A. 1901j. Variétés myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 45: 334-382 (page 367, worker described)
- Forel, A. 1912g. Formicides néotropiques. Part III. 3me sous-famille Myrmicinae (suite). Genres Cremastogaster et Pheidole. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 19: 211-237 (page 233, raised to species)
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 693, fig. major, minor described, Senior synonym of oxymora)
