Pheidole biconstricta

Pheidole biconstricta Mayr, 1870a: 399 . Lectotype major and paralectotype minor worker: Colombia, Santa Fé de Bogotá (Lindig) [NHMW, lectotype major, unique specimen identifier CASENT0916051] (AntWeb image examined).

Pheidole inermis Mayr, 1870b: 984 . Lectotype major and paralectotype minor worker: Mexico (Norton) [NHMW, unique specimen identifier CASENT0601290] (AntWeb image examined). New Synonym. For full synonymy see AntCat.org.

Comments. Pheidole inermis is a version of P. biconstricta that lacks any trace of a propodeal spine. There is continuous variation in the size of the propodeal spine in P. biconstricta, and in some cases it is reduced to a minute denticle. DNA barcoding data places three specimens that lack the propodeal spine among P. biconstricta specimens. I treat P. inermis as an extreme of variation within P. biconstricta .