Pheidole Megatron

''Pheidole'' is a genus of ants that belongs to the ant subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is widespread and ecologically dominant. It probably includes more than 1000 species. The genus first evolved in the Americas, eventually spreading across the globe.

Colony structure

Most species of ''Pheidole'' are dimorphic, which means that colonies contain two castes of workers, the "minor" workers, and the "major" workers, or "soldiers". The latter generally have much larger heads and mandibles in comparison to their usually fairly modest body size.

In addition, as in other ant species, a colony may contain one or several queens, and also in mature colonies, alates - virgin winged females and males.

Pheidole_xerophila-major_minors.jpg, major and minor workers of ''P. xerophila''

Major workers

The distinctive major workers have earned the genus ''Pheidole'' the nickname of "big-headed ants". The major workers of a ''Pheidole'' colony, while they may look fierce, are often quite shy and are often the first to flee on any hint of danger. Many ''Pheidole'' species are the prey of parasitoid phorid flies that lay their eggs on the major workers; the fly larvae grow mainly in the head capsules of the victims, eventually decapitating them, and probably would starve in the bodies of minor workers.

In most cases, the major workers are employed within the nest to break up large food items, or outside to carry large items, such as seeds; many ''Pheidole'' species are ecologically important seed consumers ("harvesters").

Species list

The genus contains over 1,000 species. They include:

* ''Pheidole acutidens''
* ''Pheidole argentina''
* ''Pheidole barreleti''
* ''Pheidole bicarinata''
* ''Pheidole bigote''
* ''Pheidole branstetteri''
* ''Pheidole braueri''
* ''Pheidole bula''
* ''Pheidole carinote''
* ''Pheidole cervicornis''
* ''Pheidole ceylonica''
* ''Pheidole clavata''
* ''Pheidole debilis''
* ''Pheidole decepticon''
* ''Pheidole dentata''
* ''Pheidole diffidens''
* ''Pheidole dodo''
* ''Pheidole elecebra''
* ''Pheidole elongicephala''
* '' Pheidole eowilsoni''
* ''Pheidole epiphyta''
* ''Pheidole fervens''
* '' Pheidole fossimandibula''
* ''Pheidole gracilipes''
* ''Pheidole gymnoceras''
* ''Pheidole harlequina''
* '' Pheidole harrisonfordi''
* ''Pheidole horni''
* '' Pheidole inquilina''
* '' Pheidole janzeni''
* ''Pheidole jonas''
* '' Pheidole karolmorae''
* ''Pheidole karolsetosa''
* '' Pheidole komori''
* ''Pheidole laevithorax''
* '' Pheidole lagunculinoda''
* '' Pheidole lanuginosa''
* ''Pheidole latinoda''
* '' Pheidole leoncortesi''
* ''Pheidole loki''
* ''Pheidole malinsii''
* ''Pheidole megacephala''
* '' Pheidole megatron''
* ''Pheidole microgyna''
* ''Pheidole neokohli''
* ''Pheidole nietneri''
* '' Pheidole noda''
* '' Pheidole obtusospinosa
* '' Pheidole ochracea''
* '' Pheidole oculata''
* ''Pheidole pallidula''
* ''Pheidole pararugiceps''
* ''Pheidole parasitica''
* ''Pheidole parva''
* '' Pheidole pegasus''
* ''Pheidole phanigaster''
* ''Pheidole picobarva''
* ''Pheidole pronotalis''
* ''Pheidole psilogaster''
* ''Pheidole purpurea''
* ''Pheidole ragnax''
* ''Pheidole rhinomontana''
* ''Pheidole rugithorax''
* ''Pheidole rugosa''
* ''Pheidole sebofila''
* ''Pheidole simplispinosa''
* ''Pheidole spathifera''
* ''Pheidole sulcaticeps''
* ''Pheidole symbiotica''
* ''Pheidole templaria''
* ''Pheidole teneriffana''
* ''Pheidole uncagena''
* ''Pheidole vieti''
* ''Pheidole vulcan''
* ''Pheidole xerophila''

References

External links

*
Myrmecos.net images of live ''Pheidole''gallery of ''Pheidole'' specimen images
on Antweb.org

{{Taxonbar, from=Q138173

Myrmicinae
Ant genera