Pheidole marcidula Wheeler

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 584

Pheidole marcidula Wheeler

Pheidole marcidula Wheeler 1908h: 457.

Types Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist; Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L marcidula , little and weak, or wasted, allusion unknown.

diagnosis A member of the " bicarinata complex" of the larger pilifera group, comprising agricola , aurea , barbata , bicarinata , centeotl , cerebrosior , defecta , gilvescens , macclendoni , macrops , marcidula , paiute , pinealis , vinelandica , xerophila , yaqui , and yucatana , which complex is characterized by the large to very large, forward-set eyes in both castes; and, in the major, by the occipital lobes lacking any sculpturing (except in aurea ); the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally angular (cornulate in cerebrosior ). P. marcidula is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: clavate hairs occasional on mesosoma, with other ordinary pilosity sparse; apex of petiolar node in side view pointed; postpetiolar node from above laterally subangulate.

Minor: promesonotal dorsal profile lined with evenly spaced pairs of clavate hairs.

Measurements (mm) Major (Sierra Blanca, Texas): HW 0.92, HL 1.22, SL 0.56, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.

Syntype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.42, EL 0.12, PW 0.28.

color Major: overall yellow, with gaster and legs in lighter shade than rest of body.

Minor: concolorous pale yellow.

Range Known only from central and western Texas.

Biology P. marcidula is evidently a rare species. Wheeler (1908h) found one colony, nesting beneath a stone at Barton Creek, Texas. In Hudspeth County, Texas, Moody and Francke (1982) found a single colony at 1300 m, nesting in open sandy loam soil.

Figure Upper: major. TEXAS: 5 km south of Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth Co. (O. F. Francke and J. V. Moody). Lower: syntype, minor. TEXAS: Barton Creek, Austin (William M. Wheeler). (Type locality: Barton Creek, Texas.) Scale bars = 1 mm.