Pheidole transversostriata
Pheidole transversostriata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Attini |
Genus: | Pheidole |
Species group: | transversostriata |
Species: | P. transversostriata |
Binomial name | |
Pheidole transversostriata Mayr, 1887 | |
Synonyms | |
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Forel (1901) collected this species from soil in Colombia (Wilson 2003). Longino (1997) found it in both seasonal dry forest and evergreen forest. The workers were recruited to baits on the forest floor.
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
P. transversostriata is evidently a wide-ranging but locally uncommon species, known from scattered records from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain, Arima Valley) to the Guianas, Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, Brazil and the Atlantic and northern Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. (Wilson 2003)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 14.39205556° to -16.256667°.
North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica (type locality), Ecuador, Guyana (type locality), Nicaragua, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
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. |
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. |
Biology
Castes
Worker
Minor
Images from AntWeb
Worker. Specimen code casent0635522. Photographer J. Longino, uploaded by University of Utah. | Owned by JTLC. |
Major
Images from AntWeb
Lectotype Pheidole transversostriata. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0601287. Photographer Anna Pal, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMV. |
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code inbiocri002279609. Photographer J. Longino, uploaded by University of Utah. | Owned by JTLC. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- transversostriata. Pheidole transversostriata Mayr, 1887: 584 (s.) GUYANA.
- Senior synonym of lacerta, nigridens: Wilson, 2003: 645.
- Senior synonym of scalaris: Longino, 2019: 62.
- nigridens. Pheidole transversostriata var. nigridens Forel, 1901e: 362 (s.w.) COLOMBIA.
- Junior synonym of transversostriata: Wilson, 2003: 645.
- lacerta. Pheidole lacerta Wheeler, W.M. 1922c: 6 (s.) TRINIDAD.
- Junior synonym of transversostriata: Wilson, 2003: 645.
- scalaris. Pheidole scalaris Wilson, 2003: 643, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.
- Junior synonym of transversostriata: Longino, 2019: 62.
Taxonomic Notes
Wilson (2003) surmised that P. scalaris could be a synonym of P. transversostriata. The two were separated by minor differences in sculpture on the minor worker and head shape of the major worker. So far there is no evidence of sympatry of separate forms. The distinctive major workers identify a widespread clade, and at this stage there is little value in using separate names for local variants.
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 A member of the transversostriata group distinguished in the major by the broad ladder-like array of transverse carinae that extend unbroken from the occiput to the frontal lobes where they curve anteriorly to the ends of the lobes. It is close to scalaris of Costa Rica, differing in the major in the lack of rugoreticulum on the occiput (completely reticulate in scalaris) and less elongate head (Head Length 1.2! Head Width versus Head Length 1.3! Head Width in scalaris), and in the minor by the completely foveolate sides of the pronotum (versus smooth and shiny in scalaris). However, a major syntype of transversostriata “var. nigridens” from Colombia has the corners of the occiput rugoreticulate and is thus intermediate between transversostriata and scalaris in this character. The two forms may prove to be geographic variants (or good species) when more material becomes available.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Unique holotype major: HW 0.66, HL 0.80, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, PW 0.36. Minor (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands): HW 0.40, HL 0.44, SL 0.36, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.
COLOR Major: medium yellowish brown, with head a shade lighter and gaster a shade darker than mesosoma and waist.
Minor: concolorous yellowish brown, legs clear yellow.
Pheidole transversostriata
DIAGNOSIS Close to Pheidole transversostriata but distinguished from it and other members of the transversostriata group by the broad occipital zone of rugoreticulum on the dorsal surface of the head of the major, surmounting a wide “ladder” of parallel transverse carinulae that reach the frontal lobes, where they curve anteriorly to the ends of the lobes; also, the promesonotal dorsum is completely covered by transverse carinulae. Also, see the distinctive color of the minor (below).
This species is possibly synonymous with P. transversostriata var. nigridens Forel of Colombia, which has been provisionally synonymized with transversostriata; nigridens has rugoreticula on the occipital corners and more carinulae on the pronotal dorsum, and is intermediate between Pheidole scalaris and transversostriata. However, scalaris also differs from transversostriata by the more elongate head of the major (Head Length 1.3! Head Width versus 1.2X in transversostriata) and smooth sides of the pronotum of the minor.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.64, HL 0.84, SL 0.32, EL 0.10, PW 0.36. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.46, SL 0.36, EL 0.08, PW 0.26.
COLOR Major: concolorous medium yellow.
Minor: overall light brownish yellow, with medium brown vertex, occiput, and dorsum of promesonotum, and medium yellow appendages.
Pheidole transversostriata. Upper: major (syntype of synonymous P. lacerta Wheeler, Port of Spain, Trinidad, compared with unique holotype of P. transversostriata). Lower: minor (Inner Brass, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, associated with major compared with transversostriata holotype). Scale bars = 1 mm.
Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
Guianas. Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna - as reported in Wilson (2003)
Pheidole scalaris: COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia, col. Stefan Cover. Museum of Comparative Zoology
Etymology
L transversostriata, transversely lined, referring to the transverse carinulae of the major head. (Wilson 2003)
Pheidole scalaris: L scalaris, of a ladder, alluding to the strong ladder-like pattern on the dorsum of the major head.
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 645, fig. major, minor described, Senior synonym of nigridens, lacerta)
- Albuquerque, E., Prado, L., Andrade-Silva, J., Siqueira, E., Sampaio, K., Alves, D., Brandão, C., Andrade, P., Feitosa, R., Koch, E., Delabie, J., Fernandes, I., Baccaro, F., Souza, J., Almeida, R., Silva, R. 2021. Ants of the State of Pará, Brazil: a historical and comprehensive dataset of a key biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon Basin. Zootaxa 5001, 1–83 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5001.1.1).
- Camargo-Vanegas, J.J., Guerrero, R.J. 2020. Las hormigas Pheidole (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) en el bosque seco tropical de Santa Marta, Colombia. Revista Colombiana de Entomologia 46(2): e8433 (doi:10.25100/socolen.v46i2.8433).
- Franco, W., Ladino, N., Delabie, J.H.C., Dejean, A., Orivel, J., Fichaux, M., Groc, S., Leponce, M., Feitosa, R.M. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674, 509–543 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4674.5.2).
- Longino, J.T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1–126 (DOI 10.11646/zootaxa.4599.1.1).
- Mayr, G. 1887. Südamerikanische Formiciden. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 37: 511-632 (page 584, soldier described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Castano-Meneses G., R. De Jesus Santos, J. R. Mala Dos Santos, J. H. C. Delabie, L. L. Lopes, and C. F. Mariano. 2019. Invertebrates associated to Ponerine ants nests in two cocoa farming systems in the southeast of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Tropical Ecology 60: 52–61.
- Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
- Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
- Groc S., J. H. C. Delabie, F. Fernandez, F. Petitclerc, B. Corbara, M. Leponce, R. Cereghino, and A. Dejean. 2017. Litter-dwelling ants as bioindicators to gauge the sustainability of small arboreal monocultures embedded in the Amazonian rainforest. Ecological Indicators 82: 43-49.
- Groc S., J. H. C. Delabie, F. Fernandez, M. Leponce, J. Orivel, R. Silvestre, Heraldo L. Vasconcelos, and A. Dejean. 2013. Leaf-litter ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a pristine Guianese rainforest: stable functional structure versus high species turnover. Myrmecological News 19: 43-51.
- Kempf W. W. 1961. A survey of the ants of the soil fauna in Surinam (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 4: 481-524.
- Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
- Lapolla, J. S., and S. P. Cover. "New species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) from Guyana, with a list of species known from the country." Transactions of the American Entomological Society 131, no. 3-4 (2005): 365-374.
- Leponce M., J. H. C. Delabie, J. Orivel, J. Jacquemin, M. Calvo Martin, and A. Dejean. 2019. Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, in Touroult J. (ed.), “Our Planet Reviewed” 2015 large-scale biotic survey in Mitaraka, French Guiana. Zoosystema 41 (10): 163-179.
- Longino J. T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American wet forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1-126
- Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
- Longino J. T., J. Coddington, and R. K. Colwell. 2002. The ant fauna of a tropical rain forest: estimating species richness three different ways. Ecology 83: 689-702.
- Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/
- Neves F. S., R. F. Braga, M. M. do Espirito-Santo, J. H. C. Delabie, G. Wilson Fernandes, and G. A. Sanchez-Azofeifa. 2010. Diversity of Arboreal Ants In a Brazilian Tropical Dry Forest: Effects Of Seasonality and Successional Stage. Sociobiology 56(1): 1-18.
- Pires de Prado L., R. M. Feitosa, S. Pinzon Triana, J. A. Munoz Gutierrez, G. X. Rousseau, R. Alves Silva, G. M. Siqueira, C. L. Caldas dos Santos, F. Veras Silva, T. Sanches Ranzani da Silva, A. Casadei-Ferreira, R. Rosa da Silva, and J. Andrade-Silva. 2019. An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhao, Brazil. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 59: e20195938.
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