Additions to the taxonomy of New World Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Author
Longino, J. T.
text
Zootaxa
2009
2181
1
90
http://hol.osu.edu/reference-full.html?id=22820
journal article
22820
Pheidole nebulosa
Pheidole nebulosa
Wilson, 2003: 470
, figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Costa Rica, Heredia, La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo (Cover, Moffett, Tobin) [
MCZ
] (examined).
Pheidole scabriventris
Wilson, 2003: 503
, figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Mexico, Veracruz, park canon, 2mi W Fortin, Hway 150, 6-9 Aug 1969 (S. & J. Peck) [
MCZ
] (examined). New synonymy.
Geographic Range
Mexico to Costa Rica.
Biology
This species inhabits mature wet forest. It appears to be both arboreal and terrestrial, occurring commonly in forest floor leaf litter and in the canopy. Nests are in irregular cavities in dead wood.
Wilson (2005)
observed that
P. nebulosa
and two other species of small
Pheidole
(
flavens
and
bilimeki
) frequently prey on oribatid mites in the leaf litter.
Comments
Pheidole nebulosa
has a highly distinctive feature in the major workers: there is a single large rounded medial tooth on the hypostomal margin and no inner hypostomal teeth. All other Central American
Pheidole
in the same size range and with similar sculptural features have inner hypostomal teeth. The only difference between the types of
P. scabriventris
and
P. nebulosa
is color. The former is red brown instead of yellow.