Pheidole acutidens

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 260

Pheidole acutidens (Santschi)

Bruchomyrma acutidens Santschi 1922e: 249. Combination with Pheidole by Wilson 1984b: 327. Types Naturhist. Mus. Basel.

etymology L acutidens , sharp-pointed tooth apparently referring to the reduced, acute mandible.

diagnosis An extreme workerless social parasite of Pheidole nitidula , with adaptations that make it unique within the genus. Queen: with 9- to 11-segmented antennae and minute, falcate toothless mandibles that taper to needle-sharp points. Male: pupiform, with mandibles vestigial or absent.

measurements (mm) Syntype queen: HW 0.40, HL 0.42, SL 0.72, EL 0.12, PW 0.58.

Color Queen: yellowish brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology P. acutidens is a permanent workerless parasite of Pheidole nitidula . The discoverer of this remarkable species, Carlos Bruch (1931), has provided extensive notes on its anatomy, ecology, behavior, and life cycle.

Figure Queen. ARGENTINA: La Plata, Buenos Aires (Carlos Bruch). Type locality: Alta Gracia (La Granja). Sierra de Cordoba, Argentina. Scale bar = 1 mm.