Pheidole pubiventris

Longino, J. T., 2009, Additions to the taxonomy of New World Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 2181, pp. 1-90 : 66-67

Pheidole pubiventris

Pheidole pubiventris Mayr, 1887: 595 . Syntype major worker, minor worker, queen: Brazil, Santa Catarina (Hetschko) [ NMW, MCZ] (examined).

Pheidole pubiventris subsp. variegata Emery, 1896: 72 . Lectotype major worker (here designated, as labeled by Wilson 2003) and associated paralectotype minor worker, queen: Costa Rica, San Jose (Alfaro) [ MHNG] (not examined). Wilson, 2003: 245: raised to species. New synonymy.

Pheidole indistincta Forel, 1899: 75 . Lectotype major worker (here designated, as labeled by Wilson 2003): Costa Rica (Tonduz) [ MHNG] (examined). New synonymy.

Pheidole pubiventris r. cearensis Forel, 1901a: 353 . Syntype major, minor worker: Brazil, Ceara, Biturite (Schmitt) (not examined). Wilson, 2003: 218: junior synonym of P. pubiventris .

Pheidole pubiventris r. nevadensis Forel, 1901a: 353 . Syntype major, minor worker, queen: Colombia, Magdalena, San Antonio,>1000m elevation (Forel) (not examined). Wilson, 2003: 218: junior synonym of P. pubiventris .

Pheidole pubiventris r. timmii Forel, 1901b: 62 . Syntype major, minor worker: U.S.A., Louisiana, New Orleans, "probably of Mexican origin" (Timm) (not examined). Wilson, 2003: 218: junior synonym of P. pubiventris .

Geographic Range

Southern Brazil to Mexico.

Biology

This species occurs in open areas and synanthropic habitats. It has been collected at baits during the day or night, and as nocturnal foragers.

Comments

This species appears to have a broad range, as often occurs in species favoring synanthropic habitats, but it is also infrequently collected and, among the few collections, shows a high degree of variability.

Collections by W. M. Wheeler at Cartago, Costa Rica, have the major worker scapes flattened at the base, the scapes are relatively short (SI 73), and the first gastral tergum has a cluster of about ten long erect setae anteriorly, underlain by fully appressed sparse pubescence, individual setae of which are about as long as distance among them. Specimens collected by Trager at CATIE, a site near Turrialba and only 30km from Cartago, have majors with thinner scape bases, longer scapes (SI 81), and the first gastral tergum with about five long erect setae and the underlying appressed pubescence much sparser, the individual setae of which are much further apart than their length. A collection from a dry forest site in lowland Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica, is very similar to the Cartago specimens, with major worker scapes flattened, SI 67, and similar underlying pubescence. Collections from southern Mexico (Sierra Madre de Chiapas) have major worker with flattened scapes, but the scapes are relatively long (SI 82) and the pubescence on the gaster is subdecumbent rather than fully appressed. The types of P. pubiventris , from southern Brazil, have the major worker scape somewhat flattened (more so than illustration in Wilson 2003:218), intermediate between the Cartago and CATIE collections from Costa Rica. Based on Wilson's measurements, scapes are relatively short, SI 75. No observations were made on the pilosity of the gaster. The types of Emery's P. variegata , from San Jose, Costa Rica, were not examined, but Wilson's illustration (2003:245) and measurements suggest a form with narrow scape bases and scapes relatively long (SI 84), perhaps similar to the CATIE collection. Finally, the lectotype major worker of Forel's P. indistincta , from "Costa Rica," is identical to Wheeler's Cartago collections. This was an early collection by Tonduz, and was probably from the same population in Costa Rica's central valley.