Pheidole elecebra (Wheeler)

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 576

Pheidole elecebra (Wheeler)

Sympheidole elecebra Wheeler 1904a: 8. Combination in Pheidole by D. R. Smith 1979.

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L elecebra , freeloaders, a social parasite.

Diagnosis A very small member of the pilifera group, a permanent, workerless social parasite of Pheidole ceres , distinguishable at once by the enormous curved, hornlike lateral extensions of the postpetiolar node; otherwise overall normal in appearance for a Pheidole queen.

Measurements (mm) Syntype queen: HW 0.58, HL 0.60, EL 0.22 (SL and PW not measured). Color Queen: light brown.

Range Known from several records in Colorado between 2000 and 2200 m; the preferred habitat is the same as that of its host, that is, primarily pinyon-cedar-oak woodland (Gregg 1963).

Biology Wheeler (1904a, 1910b), from an examination of a living host colony and its elecebra guests, concluded that the inquiline behaves like Anergates atratulus of Europe in preventing the host colony from producing new reproductives (queens and males) of its own. Contrary evidence was obtained by Stefan Cover, who rediscovered the species in 1994. One mixed colony he collected near North Cheyenne, Colorado, contained a dealate elecebra queen, many winged elecebra queens, and queen pupae of the parasite, but also abundant host ( ceres ) minor and major brood, along with 400-600 adult host minors and majors; this combination constitutes virtual proof that a reproducing host queen was also present. A second colony contained beyond 200-300 adult host minors and majors, only adult parasite males and parasite male pupae. This combination suggests the absence of a host queen.

figure Queen. COLORADO: 2.2 km north of North Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, 2200 m (Stefan Cover), compared with syntype. (Type Locality: Manitou, Colorado, 2130 m, W. M. Wheeler.) Scale bar = 1 mm.