4 replies to this topic

[cpman]

So, I found a dealated Pheidole queen in my pool today.

She is 7 mm long. She has really big jaws for her size. Her gaster is much darker than her mesosoma and head. Her postpetiole is much wider than her petiole is. Her antennal scapes are curved near the base, so I'd guess she is in the P. fallax species group.

My best guess at the moment is P. texana or P. hyatti because of how wide the postpetiole is, but the former species is not supposed to be common, so I doubt it. The latter is quite common around here.

 

Here are pictures:

 

 

 

 

I know it is unlikely for me to get an ID until I get workers, but hopefully someone will be able to ID it from a queen.

Edited by cpman, June 23 2015 - 9:18 PM.

[dspdrew]

Pheidole is one of those genera that I never plan on getting ID'd.

[LC3]

Pheidole is one of those genera that I never plan on getting ID'd.

Why?

[cpman]

 

Pheidole is one of those genera that I never plan on getting ID'd.

Why?

 

It is the largest genus of ants in the world, and it is extremely difficult to identify. Many of the species (even in areas with very well studied ant fauna) are very poorly characterized. Many species are difficult to identify from a full set of castes. The reproductives of lots of species aren't well characterized either. There are lots of species that seem to be a large complex of related species and other species that should be made into a single species.

 

Usually, you need both minor and major workers to even have a shot at identifying them. Hopefully, I'll be able to ID this species once she gets both majors and minors...

Edited by cpman, June 23 2015 - 9:45 PM.

[LC3]

Interesting. Pheidole are on of my favourite species sadly I only had one encounter with them my whole life which was in Shanghai, China.