Pheidole caffra Emery subspecies bayeri Forel variety thysvillensis, Wheeler, W. M., 1922

Wheeler, W. M., 1922, The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition., Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45, pp. 39-269 : 130

Pheidole caffra Emery subspecies bayeri Forel variety thysvillensis , new variety

Soldier.-Length 4 to 4.5 mm. Smaller than the typical bayeri , with the head of the same shape, but subopaque and with only the front and occiput somewhat shining. The occipital depression is less distinct than in the subspecies abyssinica Forel, and the rugae are anteriorly less numerous, coarser, and farther apart, but very fine and distinctly transverse on the occiput. The antennal scapes are shorter than in the typical bayeri , reaching only a little beyond the middle of the head. The suberect epinotal spines are not pointed as in abyssinica and bayeri but somewhat longer, of uniform thickness or even slightly enlarged at the tips, which are blunt. The base of the epinotum is not longer than broad. The postpetiole is somewhat narrower than in bayeri and abyssinica, with blunter lateral angles. Thorax, petiole, and postpetiole more finely rugulose-punctate than in abyssinica; gaster shining, with the base of the first segment subopaque and alutaceous. Color as in abyssinica, with the head and thorax ferruginous brown but varying in some specimens to pale ferruginous red, with the gaster black or brown and the base of the first segment and posterior borders of all the segments paler and more reddish or yellowish.

Worker.-Length 2 mm. Smaller than the worker of bayeri . Head elliptical, without posterior corners, longer than broad. Antennal scapes extending two-fifths their length beyond the occipital border, which is rather sharply marginate. Shining; head and thorax finely reticulate; mesonotum, epinotum, petiole, and ventral and lateral portions of the postpetiole opaque and densely punctate. Ferruginous brown; head castaneous; mandibles except their teeth, yellowish.

Described from numerous specimens taken both by Lang and Bequaert at Thysville, apparently from the same colony, "nesting in sandy soil in the savannah."