11 replies to this topic

[AntsTopia]

I just wanted to know what the biggest pheidole species is. Some say it’s Rhea and others say it’s Sinica. What do you guys think? Thanks!

[Virginian_ants]

I think Rhea majors are slightly bigger.

Edited by Virginian_ants, August 12 2023 - 1:48 PM.

[AntsTopia]

I think Rhea majors are slightly bigger.

Than sinica?

[Virginian_ants]

Yes

[AntsTopia]

Yes

It’s a trade off honestly, Pheidole Rhea workers are smaller than Pheidole Sinica workers but Pheidole Rhea’s super-majors are bigger than Pheidole Sinica’s super-majors. In the polymorphic world there is always more workers than majors so if I could keep one it would be Pheidole Sinica. 

[Virginian_ants]

Yeah that is probably true

[Mettcollsuss]

rhea supermajors get up to ~14 mm, sinica majors reach just barely over 9 mm. Minors are about 4 to 4.5 mm for both species.

Pheidole Rhea’s super-majors are bigger than Pheidole Sinica’s super-majors.

sinica don't have supermajors, they're just large majors.

Edited by Mettcollsuss, August 12 2023 - 10:24 PM.

[AntsTopia]

rhea supermajors get up to ~14 mm, sinica majors reach just barely over 9 mm. Minors are about 4 to 4.5 mm for both species.

Pheidole Rhea’s super-majors are bigger than Pheidole Sinica’s super-majors.

sinica don't have supermajors, they're just large majors.

My mistake.

[Hiromilovesmealworms]

Did you guys just forget about Antipodum queens?

Srry old thread

[CheetoLord02]

P. rhea queens are the same size or larger than antipodum. sinica does not come close to either. There are some species with larger minors than P. rhea (not sinica), but P. rhea queens and supermajors are the largest found in the genus.

Btw, for whoever is suggesting P. sinica is the largest species, they aren't even the largest in Asia. That title likely goes to Pheidole ocellata.

[Sebants]

P. rhea queens are the same size or larger than antipodum. sinica does not come close to either. There are some species with larger minors than P. rhea (not sinica), but P. rhea queens and supermajors are the largest found in the genus.

Btw, for whoever is suggesting P. sinica is the largest species, they aren't even the largest in Asia. That title likely goes to Pheidole ocellata.

[Sebants]

P. rhea queens are the same size or larger than antipodum. sinica does not come close to either. There are some species with larger minors than P. rhea (not sinica), but P. rhea queens and supermajors are the largest found in the genus.

Btw, for whoever is suggesting P. sinica is the largest species, they aren't even the largest in Asia. That title likely goes to Pheidole ocellata.

Unfortunately this is false. This year I gathered a few rhea and sinica queens. Sinica queens are generally the same length as rhea, but are in fact bulkier. I can dm pictures and videos for proof if you'd like. Now, a few months later, I can confirm that rhea majors are around the same size as sinica majors. I expect rhea super majors to dwarf sinica majors though. Additionally, sinica minors are noticeably larger than rhea minors. Maybe 1mm. Nothing crazy, and not anything readily apparent unless you put them side by side.