The Ants of Africa
SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE - Genus Pheidole
provisional key to minor workers of all African species
Genus Pheidole Introduction

I have attempted to compile a key to those species for which I have sufficiently detailed descriptions and/or have illustrations.


Provisional key to workers of named species and separable forms

April 2010 - I have added the Cephalic Index CI = HW/HL and Scape Index, SI = SL/HW.  None of the indices appear in the published literature and so are for specimens I have diagnosed as being of the species or, less commonly, from earlier illustrations.

¤ Status dubious Guinea - guineensis
¤ Minor only - description inadequate; TL 1.6 mm; pale rufo-testaceous, head and gaster more red, overall shiny South Africa - irritans
¤ Queen and male only known Zaïre - neokohli
¤ Minor only, description dubious - pale yellow almost hairless; head quite large, near square, with eyes small and black; alitrunk narrow, domed anteriorly, no obvious propodeal spines Senegal - pallidelutea
¤ Brief description of worker or major - TL 3.75 mm; colour rufo-piceus, gaster darker; metanotum strongly rugose, propodeal spines acute Kenya - scabriuscula
. Adequately defined species --
1 {short description of image}Postpetiole narrow, barrel-shaped longer than wide; mandibles crossed over when closed; anterior margin of clypeus extending forward to overlap base of mandibles and medially weakly concave; eyes relatively small set at mid-point of side of head; condyla bulbs not visible in full face view; scapes surpass occiput by at least one-quarter of own length; long-legged; with head smooth & shiny except for lateral rugae; alitrunk quite strongly sculptured with reticulo-puncturations 2
-- Postpetiole wider than long; trapezoidal but variably dentate at widest point 5
. rugaticeps-group - concinna, rugaticeps, tenuinodis & victoris --
2 TL at least 3 mm 3
-- TL maximum 3.0 mm 4
3 {Pheidole concinna minor}TL 3.5-4.3 mm, CI 82, SI 157; head narrower than long, frontal area wide and very distinctly impressed, occiput rounded and narrowed; clypeus often weakly carinate; mandibles with two apical teeth and 5-6 denticles; mandibles very finely striate; scape surpasses occiput by more than a quarter of its length; alitrunk impressed between the pronotum and mesonotum, with transverse welt; metanotal groove deep, spines slightly longer than one-third the propodeal dorsum; legs long; petiole narrow and elongate, postpetiole about one-third longer than wide; rest of head smooth and shiny other than irregular longitudinal rugae on the sides; alitrunk and pedicel densely punctate but less so on the pronotum dorsum and pedicel which are shiny; lateral propodeum striate; erect pilosity abundant and long, yellowish; longer and denser on the head than on rugaticeps; gaster and legs smooth; dull red with head the same colour as the alitrunk Congo - concinna
-- {short description of image}TL 3-3.5 mm, CI 72, SI 177; head elongated, clypeus without a carina; propodeal spines short, oblique & divergent; postpetiole wider than petiole, subconical; head smooth other than lateral rugae; alitrunk finely coriaceous; all over with numerous erect hairs; ferruginous-testaceous, gaster darker Sahel zone - rugaticeps
4 {short description of image}TL 2.8-3.0 mm, CI 83, SI 150; head wider behind than in front, anterior margin of clypeus shallowly emarginate, median area with a raised line; funiculus with first segment as long as next two together; propodeum dorsum weakly marginate; pilosity long and abundant; colour similar to punctulata but head and alitrunk darker and more reddish-brown Southern Africa & Congo Basin - tenuinodis
-- TL 2.3-3.0 mm; head oval widest in the middle, eyes very convex placed at mid-point; propodeal spines quite small; propodeum declivity oblique shorter than dorsum; head sides finely reticulate-punctate and with longitudinal striae which do not extend back beyond the eyes; reddish-yellow, head darker behind, gaster brown, paler at base Zimbabwe - victoris
return to key Postpetiole wider than long; trapezoidal but variably dentate at widest point --
5 {Pheidole arnoldi}TL 1.8-2.3 mm; HW = HL, widest across the eyes; eyes fairly large set in the anterior third of the sides; frontal carinae short, frontal area quite large; clypeus feebly carinate; scapes just surpassing the occiput; metanotal groove distinct, propodeal dorsum flat with minute vertical teeth, declivity shorter than the dorsum; postpetiole one-third wider than long, convex anteriorly, sides obtusely angular, sometimes produced into short truncated cones; overall dark brown, gaster darker and appendages lighter, mandibles pale reddish-brown; erect pilosity yellowish longest and most abundant on the gaster arnoldi-group - Zimbabwe - arnoldi
¤ TL 3.0-3.7 mm; head considerably wider than long and wider anteriorly; eyes quite prominent; mandible elongate, with two apical teeth and a crenulate inner margin; antennae slender; alitrunk robust with distinct metanotal groove, propodeal teeth small and sharp but subtending a raised carina on each side; postpetiole with angular sides; densely granulate, opaque, head with a few longitudinal rugae laterally, gaster with fine basal longitudinal striation; whole of body covered with numerous fine erect hairs; colour dull brown Eritrea (Ethiopia) - clavata
-- Eyes set around the mid-point of the head 6
. Eyes set around the mid-point of the head --
6 {short description of image}Alitrunk with low or no mesonotal welt; mandibles generally shorter, external border straighter and more acutely angled at the end; denticles coarser; gaster relatively shorter and wider 35
-- {short description of image} Alitrunk with raised transverse area on mesonotum - mandibles usually with a long outer curved margin and numerous fine denticles OR with a distinct pair of apical teeth subtended by fine denticles; gaster relatively narrow 7
7 Petiole from above straight-sided and quite narrow long; postpetiole variable but not hexagonal 17
-- Postpetiole from above hexagonal with lateral angles; with a nuchal collar (?) 8
-- {Ph species E details}TL 2.25 mm, CI 86, SI 123; with large distinctive propodeal spiracle and upturned short spines; sculpturation restricted to spiculation of lateral mesonotum and propodeum; yellow-brown gaster darker; mandibles smooth and quite bright yellow .
. {Pheidole species E minor} West Africa & Congo Basin - new species - stephensi
. .Postpetiole from above hexagonal with lateral angles; with a nuchal collar (?) --
8 Head squarish to oval, scapes surpass the occiput but not by much 9
-- Head similar but scapes surpass the occiput by about one-quarter of their length 13 - capensis group
9 {Pheidole liengmei}TL 3.7-4.0 mm; head fairly round, the posterior margin straight, angles rounded; eyes large convex and placed in the middle of the sides; clypeus feebly carinate, frontal area large and well defined, frontal carinae straight reaching to about one-third point of head; scapes surpassing occiput by about twice the apical width; pronotum convex with posterior lateral angles produced into rather large cones, readily visible in profile; propodeum dorsum twice as long as declivity, spines very long and subvertical, feebly divergent; petiole with a long pedicel; post-petiole four-fifths longer than high, the sides angular; legs long; head and alitrunk densely reticulo-punctate, appearing granular and giving a dull appearance; pedicel finely reticulate; legs and apical two-thirds of gaster shiny; dark brown, gaster near black, appendages yellowish-brown; pubescence and pilosity scanty East Africa - liengmei
-- Head without transverse striation on occiput 10
. spinulosa-group - njassae, schultzei, spinulosa and xocensis --
10 TL 3.5-4 mm; propodeal spines as long as interbasal width; head and alitrunk generally finely punctate, gaster even more finely sculptured; most of head and body matt; dark red-brown, appendages and gaster blackish Tanzania - njassae
-- TL no more than 3.0 mm 11
11 {Pheidole spinulosa}TL 2.0-2.4 mm, CI 88, SI 100; scapes not surpassing the occiput; head quadrate, slightly narrower anteriorly, eyes set at mid-point, propodeum spines no more than pointed teeth; erect pilosity very sparse; essentially yellowish-brown Southern Africa - spinulosa
-- Head near circular, scapes surpassing the occiput by about 1/3 of own length 12
12 {Pheidole schultzei}TL 2.0-2.2 mm, CI 88, SI 136; head rectangular sides near straight; scapes just surpass the occiput; colour yellowish-red, gaster, sides of head and scapes more brown Southern Africa - schultzei
. {Pheidole schultzei ebangana minor}CI 80, SI 144, darker colour and slightly longer propodeal spines Angola, Gabon, CAR - schultzei ebangana
-- {Pheidole xocensis}TL 2.3-2.6 mm; head more or less oval, slightly narrower posteriorly; dark brown, appendages brownish-yellow Zimbabwe - xocensis
return to key Head squarish to oval but scapes surpass the occiput by about one-quarter of their length
capensis group - capensis, cuitensis (possibly), rohani and sculpturata
--
13 {Pheidole capensis}TL 2.5 mm, CI 88, SI 106; metanotal groove and transverse impression of mesonotum quite deep; head very finely and longitudinally rugulose, vertex smooth and shining; pronotum shining, rest of alitrunk reticulo-punctate and dull; generally brownish-yellow with head more reddish Southern Africa - capensis also cuitensis
-- TL 2.2 mm; smaller than sculpturata, with shorter scapes; entirely reticulo-punctate including the gaster north-east Africa & Saudi Arabia - katonae
-- TL at least 3.0 mm 14
14 Head essentially shiny 15
-- Head densely spiculate sculptured 16
15 {Pheidole rohani}TL 3.6 mm, CI 86, SI 128; dark brown, with appendages reddish .
. {Pheidole rohani} Angola & Congo - rohani
. {Pheidole rohani pellax}TL much smaller and less sculpturation on the head Angola & Congo - rohani pellax
16 {Pheidole ingenita}TL ca 3.5 mm, CI 84, SI 120; overall stocky; dark red brown, densely spiculate all over, fading away on apex of gaster; spiculation overlaid by longitudinal striation; head in profile relatively flattened with a pronounced posterior border; in full face view, without mandibles near square, with slightly convex sides and rounded corners to occipitum; clypeus with a straight anterior border, medial carina and lateral rugae; two distinct long forward directed hairs, one each side on median; face with longitudinal rugae overlayed on overall spiculation; rugae fading away on vertex; mandibles large, striated and with elongated apices; scapes not exceeding vertex by more than about one-third their length, relatively thick, broadest apically; funiculus segments beadlike, 2-8 about equal in size and as long as broad; club with segments 9 and 10 equal and 11 barely longer; eyes quite large, convex and situated just forward of mid-line of face; mesonotum and propodeum with lateral carinae forming a raised border running on to the spines; propodeal spines triangular about as long as propodeal declivity slightly upturned; petiole with divided apex; postpetiole somewhat cuboid, lower than petiole and quite small for genus; erect hairs quite abundant but fine and light coloured, especially abundant on antennae and tarsi giving both a bristly appearance Ivory Coast & Cameroun - ingenita new status
-- {Pheidole sculpturata}TL 3.0 mm, CI 100, SI 116; antennae long and slender, with funicular club almost as long as the rest of the funiculus; pronotum bituberculate; metanotal groove deep; mesonotum with weak lateral margination, which continues onto the propodeum and into the spines; densely sculptured overall, sides of head striate, clypeus weakly ridged and shiny; fronts shiny; gaster mostly shiny although dull at the base; ferruginous brown, gaster darker to pitch -Pan-(sub-Saharan)Africa - sculpturata
-- {Pheidole welgelegenensis}TL type ca 4.1-4.5 mm, CI 100, SI 120; (specimen closer to  variety dignata TL ca 3.5 mm) occiput weakly impressed; sculpturation on head reduced relative to sculpturata; darker almost black
West Africa & Congo Basin - welgelegenensis new status
return to key Petiole from above straight-sided and quite narrow long; postpetiole variable but not hexagonal -
17 Head more or less ovoid in full face view, with prominent convex eyes and long dentate mandibles, completely or nearly smooth and shiny 26
-- Head square-ovoid or elongate ovoid with strongly narrowed occiput 18
18 Head distinctly longer than wide - ovoid in the true sense 19
-- Head width and length about the same, also occiput straight to weakly impressed OR head elongate with a narrow occiput or neck 21
. variolosa-group - akermani, aeberlii and variolosa --
19 {Pheidole akermani}TL 2.6 mm, CI 81, SI 102; propodeal spines short and triangular; dark castaneous brown, posterior of head, alitrunk and petiole redder South Africa - akermani
-- TL at least 3 mm; with rugose alitrunk 20
20 {short description of image}TL 3.0 mm, CI 70, SI 170; alitrunk rugose, humeri with tubercules; propodeal spines short; postpetiole laterally angular, with transverse striations; basal segment of gaster striate-punctate; head and alitrunk reticulo-rugose and subtly punctate dull, also base of gaster; front of head flat, clypeus carinate, rugose, base of mandibles striate; pronotum with tubercles, also mesonotum, dorsum of propodeum bicarinate, with acute spines; dull ferruginous, appendages lighter Somalia - variolosa
-- Pheidole aeberlii eryhtraea minorTL 3.0 mm, CI 86, SI 107; head with almost straight occiput and only a narrow nuchal collar; yellow-red, gaster more brown Horn of Africa - erythraea - new status
-- {Pheidole aeberlli}TL 3.2-3.3 mm, CI 87-89, SI 143-150; anterior margin of clypeus medially impressed; structure as variolosa; brown, alitrunk reddish-brown, appendages yellowish-brown - photographed specimen has a distinctive bristly scape and funiculus
{Pheidole aeberlii minor}
Sahel zone - aeberlii
-- {Pheidole andrieui}TL 3.5 mm, CI 74-81, SI 129; head oval almost twice as long as wide when the eyes are ignored; occipital border with nuchal collar (?); clypeus smooth weakly convex with a short median carina; frontal carinae about one fifth longer than they are apart; frontal notch weak and short; alitrunk fairly elongate, mesonotum profile convex, propodeal spines upright, fairly divergent and about as long as three-quarters their basal interval; petiole with a long pedicel, summit entire; postpetiole about one quarter longer than posterior width, laterally obtusely angled ; most of head smooth and shiny, sides reticulo-punctate; alitrunk & pedicel regularly reticulo-punctate, reduced on pronotum dorsum; gaster smooth other than a few basal reticulations; black, alitrunk sometimes dorsally lighter, appendages brown, articulations and tarsi yellow brown
{short description of image}
Sahel zone - andrieui (in buchholzi-group)
. Head width and length about the same, also occiput straight to weakly impressed OR head elongate with a narrow occiput or neck --
21 {short description of image}Head square-ovoid, as narrow behind as in front; funiculi with a bead-like appearance; postpetiole wider than long and rounded laterally 22
-- {short description of image}Head an elongate oval; funiculi segments with a rectangular appearance; postpetiole large especially wide posteriorly 23
. buchholzi-group (part) - aspera, buchholzi and hewitti - scape surpasses occiput by about one-third ? --
22 {Pheidole hewitti} TL 2.5 mm, CI 91, SI 116; mandibles feebly striate on the sides; scape surpasses occiput by about one-third of its length; promesonotum with elongate convex profile slightly interrupted by a small lateral tubercle on the mesonotum; propodeum with dorsum and declivity forming an obtuse angle with a small raised tooth; dark brown, gaster slightly lighter, mandibles & tarsi brownish ochreous, antennae & legs pale brown South Africa - hewitti
-- TL 3.7-3.8 mm; head longer than wide; scape surpassing the occiput; reddish or lighter yellowish West Africa & Congo Basin - buchholzi
-- {Pheidole aspera}TL 3.0 mm; HW = HL, CI 90, SI 100, scapes surpass occiput by about one-third their length, funiculus with all segments bead-like; mandibles longitudinally striate at the base, clypeus weakly striate, middle of head more or less smooth; most of alitrunk and gaster shiny, propodeum transversely rugose; short, acute spines directed upwards; pilosity quite abundant; head blackish-brown, alitrunk red brown, rest yellowish-brown .
. {Pheidole aspera minor} South Africa - aspera
. speculifera-group - aspera, kohli, occipitalis, speculifera and vanderveldi - overall elongate species, with head an elongate oval, with long mandibles --
23 Dull in appearance 24
-- Shiny 25
24 {short description of image}TL 3.42 mm, HL 0.86, HW 0.65, SL 1.17, PW 0.47; CI 74, SI 164; clypeus with a fine median carina; petiole with a low node flattened dorsally in profile; postpetiole with a domed profile and ovoid in dorsal view; sculpturation only of spiculation on the propodeum, lateral mesonotum and the petiole; yellow-orange, shiny, with a transparent cuticle. Pan-African - speculifera
-- TL 3.9-4 mm; similar to speculifera but dark brown/black, legs paler, tarsi and funiculus rusty red Southern Africa - vanderveldi
25 {short description of image}TL 3.5-4 mm, CI 80, SI 162; red-brown, antennae and legs darker Kenya & Zaïre - kohli
-- {short description of image}TL 3-4 mm; HL slightly greater than HW; CI 87, SI 166; sides of head feebly arcuate; sparse erect hairs, no pubescence; head entirely shiny; head and alitrunk brownish-red, gaster brown West Africa - occipitalis
return to key. Head more or less ovoid in full face view, with prominent convex eyes and long dentate mandibles, completely or nearly smooth and shiny --
26 Occiput wide and medially straight fervens group - areniphila, caffra, mayri, pusilla, sinaitica, teneriffana, Cameroon 73 - 27
-- Head in full face view almost purely ovoid ; with distinctive raised frontal carinae, exposing the condylar bulbs; base of scape with triangular widening - prelli-group - dea, prelli, pulchella 32
27 Propodeal spines short and sharp 28
-- Propodeal spines long and (mostly) relatively blunt apically 31
28 Head with sides near parallel until past the eyes 29
-- Head widest at level of the eyes, widening from the clypeal margin backwards to that point 30
29 {caffra head profile}TL ca 3 mm, CI 77, SI 147; antennal scapes surpassing occiput by about half their length; distinctive longitudinal carina on gena forward of the eye; dark reddish-brown, with variably lighter appendages. Probably identical with pusilla Cameroun - species Cameroon 73
-- {short description of image}TL 2.4 mm; head slightly bigger than the gaster; alitrunk narrow; pronotum dorsum subtly granulated; head variable brown, alitrunk light yellowish-brown, gaster chestnut with lighter apex Madeira - pusilla
30 {Pheidole fervens face}TL 2.8 mm, CI 83, SI 125; head large relative to the alitrunk; with distinct groove between pro-and mesonotum; postpetiole wider than long; generally brown-yellow, gaster darker North African tramp - (synonymy of teneriffana) fervens
-- {short description of image}TL 2.8-3 mm, CI 79, SI 142; brownish-red or more yellow, gaster darker; underside of head with gular hairs Egypt - sinaitica
31 {Pheidole caffra}TL ca 3 mm, CI 95, SI 100; head slightly long than wide; eyes very convex and set about four fifths of the length from the anterior of the head; scapes surpass occiput by a distance equal to about half the length of the distance between the rear of the eye and the occiput; legs long; alitrunk and antennae red-brown, head dull brown or blackish brown; gaster near black, mandibles and legs yellowish-brown; .
. {Pheidole caffra minor} Southern & Eastern African - caffra
-- {Pheidole bayeri minor}TL 2.7 mm, CI 87, SI 152; head longer than wide (longer than abyssinica [caffra]); more narrowed behind, with distinct posterior border (nuchal collar?); scape surpasses occiput by two-fifths of its length; scape with numerous erect hairs; generally smooth but with oblique striations on the genae; propodeum reticulate; almost black, mandibles yellowish, appendages reddish West Africa & Congo Basin - bayeri
-- {short description of image}TL 3.08, HL 0.75, HW 0.56, SL 0.89, PW 0.42; CI 78, SI 147;with unusually large eyes; head, pronotum and gaster unsculptured; propodeal spines thick and blunt; erect pilosity generally less abundant and distinctly shorter; colour dark red-brown, gaster and head near black .
. {Pheidole mayri} West Africa & Congo Basin - mayri
-- Pheidole areniphila minorTL 2.3-2.5 mm; sides of head more convex in full face view; scape surpasses occiput by about one-third its length; postpetiole with globular profile; fairly shiny but lightly and finely reticulate all over; reddish yellow, head brownish-yellow, gaster yellowish (Kenya specimen darker)
southern Africa - areniphila
-- {Pheidole senilifrons}TL 1.8-2.3 mm; scape without erect hairs; uniform yellow-brown, mandibles yellowish
West Africa & Congo Basin - senilifrons
return to key. Head ovoid in full face view, with distinctive raised frontal carinae, exposing the condylar bulbs; base of scape with triangular widening --
32 With short propodeal spines 33
-- With long curved propodeal spines 34
33 {Pheidole prelli}TL 2.5 mm, CI 84, SI 147; mandibles striated and pubescent; anterior border entirely denticulate; head an eighth longer than wide, slightly narrowed posteriorly, rectangular with a somewhat distinct posterior border, convex; clypeus without carinae; frontal carinae parallel, reaching about the midpoint but not forming a distinct scrobe; even so, between the carinae and the first rugae of the genae the antennal socket is distinctly raised in a transverse arc, prolonged slightly forward; eyes convex slightly forward of the midpoint; scape surpassing the occiput by about one-third its length; alitrunk as in the soldier but more elongated, with less pronounced structures; propodeal dorsum one-third longer than wide; spines twice as long as the basal separation; declivity short; postpetiole as long as wide; rest as soldier; head quite shiny, finely and irregularly reticulate, with oblique rugae between the eyes and the frontal carinae, arcing into the anterior sockets; alitrunk densely reticulo-punctate and almost matt, except on the pronotum, where the dorsum is near smooth; petiole node reticulate; rest shiny; pilosity and pubescence as in the soldier; overall yellow-rust; head, antennae and vague bands on the gaster brownish. East Africa - prelli
-- West Africa (?) & Congo Basin n sp close to prelli Gabon 75
34 {Pheidole dea}TL 3-3.5 mm, CI 82, SI 161; overall shiny with reduced sculpturation, erect hairs coarse and relatively sparse; head in full face view near circular; propodeal spines long; deep piceous, almost black West Africa & Congo Basin - (species D) dea
. {Pheidole pulchella minor}TL 3-3.5 mm, CI 90, SI 170; head nearly circular, scarcely longer than broad, without posterior corners, occipital border strongly marginate; mandibles large, their apical borders long and finely denticulate, with two larger terminal teeth; clypeus convex, with rounded, entire anterior border; eyes just in front of the middle of the head, moderately large and convex; antennae slender, scapes extending about two-fifths their length beyond the occipital border; alitrunk slender, the pronotum rather depressed above, bluntly tuberculate on the sides near the middle; mesonotum long and sloping, with a broad transverse impression in front and a transverse swelling behind it; metanotal constriction deep and broad; propodeum as broad as long, with subequal base and declivity, not concave in the middle as in the soldier; spines longer, as long as the base and more strongly curved backward; petiole similar to that of the major, but with a lower, blunter node; postpetiole scarcely twice as broad as the petiole, longer than broad, rounded above and on the sides; gaster distinctly smaller than the head; legs slender; overall shining; finely reticulate; mandibles finely and densely striate, lustrous; gaster more shining than the head and thorax; mesonotum and propodeum and ventral and lateral portions of the petiole and postpetiole subopaque, densely punctate; pilosity much like that of the major, sparser on the body but more abundant on the legs; yellowish red, or reddish yellow, with paler legs and brown gaster, the latter in most specimens yellowish at the base.
-- CI 90, SI  130{Pheidole pulchella profile} Congo Basin - pulchella achantella ?
-- {Pheidole nimba}TL 3.5-3.6 mm, CI ca 83; head entirely matt, covered with large regular reticulation, erect hairs slender, yellowish; clypeus carinate with carina extended forward beyond clypeal margin Guinea - nimba
return to key Alitrunk with low or no mesonotal welt; mandibles generally shorter, external border straighter and more acutely angled at the end; denticles coarser; gaster relatively shorter and wider --
35 Head square 36
-- Head more ovoid with convex sides 44
36 Funiculus with a relatively swollen three-segmented club 37
-- Funiculus with a relatively slender three-segmented club 41
. termitophila-group - bequaerti, miniscula, nigritella, schoutedeni, strator & termitophila --
37 Colour very dark to black 38
-- Colour other than black 39
38 TL 1.9 mm; mandibles striate, puncturate at the extremities; head square, occiput lightly impressed, scape just surpassing the occiput, eyes large, clearly elongate, longer than their distance from the anterior of the head, set in the anterior third, funiculi with middle segments wider than long; promesonotum strongly convex; propodeum with horizontal dorsum, almost as wide as long, with the spines short about one third of the basal separation, subvertical; postpetiole not much wider than the petiole; head, alitrunk and pedicel entirely matt and densely reticulo-punctate, head with fairly strong lateral rugae; gaster anteriorly reticulate and subopaque, smooth posteriorly as are the legs; head dark brown, rest lighter brown, appendages and mandibles reddish brown
Zaïre - bequaerti
-- {short description of image}TL 2.0-2.1, CI 90, SI 100; black, very shiny, puncturation fine and serrated, appendages brown. Head slightly longer than wide, very rounded posteriorly; occiput is straight, bordered and wide. Antennae slender, in the funiculus segments 2 and 3 are equal, three times longer than wide, segment 4 twice as long as wide. Prothorax as convex as the soldier; propodeum puncturate except on anterior third. Petiole slender, node less elevated than that of the soldier. Postpetiole as the soldier. All body parts are more elongated than those of the other minute Pheidole in the termitophila group Guinea & Ghana- nigritella
39 {Pheidole miniscula}TL 1.7 mm; head a little longer than wide, with fine puncturations; occiput concave, wide and not bordered; second segment of antennal club scarcely longer than wide; propodeal spines reduced to short teeth; postpetiole globular; body yellow-brown, very shiny, petiole and appendages testaceous. Guinea - miniscula
-- TL > 1.7 mm 40
40 {short description of image}TL 1.7-1.8 mm, CI 100, SI 100; sides of head with weak but visible puncturation; generally yellow-brown, appendages lighter Sahel zone - termitophila
-- {Pheidole strator minor}Minor TL 1.7-1.8 mm, CI 94, SI 100; yellow brown, appendages darker Eastern Africa - strator
return to key Head square; with relatively slender three-segmented club; postpetiole weakly conical laterally
- excellens-group - excellens (species F995), mylognatha, retronitens, weissi, species T4 & species T5
--
41 TL at least 3.0 mm 42
-- TL < 3.0 mm 43
42 {Ph sp F995}TL 3.8 mm, CI 95, SI 120; red-brown, dull due to dense puncturation and abundant covering of moderately long, semi-prone, fine hairs. Pan-African - excellens (species F995)
-- {short description of image}TL 3.0 mm, CI 90, SI 112; scape longer; mostly dark red-brown, head reddish with a frontal yellowish-red band, tibiae and scapes brown-yellow, tarsi & funiculi yellowish .
. {Pheidole weissi minor} Congo Basin & Nigeria - weissi
43 {short description of image}TL 2 mm, CI 92, SI 109; head a little longer than broad, as broad in front as behind, with feebly convex sides and a feebly concave posterior border; eyes rather convex, just in front of the middle of the sides; mandibles with the whole apical border very finely denticulate; clypeus convex, its anterior border entire, broadly rounded; scapes extending fully one-fourth their length beyond the posterior border of the head; alitrunk and petiole very similar to those of the soldier but the mesonotum more sloping and with much feebler transverse convexity; postpetiole only one and one-half times as broad as the petiole, its sides produced as short angles or conules; shining; mandibles finely and indistinctly striate; clypeus and cheeks longitudinally rugulose; area between the frontal carinae and the eyes reticulate, remainder of head very smooth and shining; pronotum smooth and shining above, reticulate on the sides; mesonotum and propodeum subopaque, densely punctate; petiole and post-petiole more finely punctate, the nodes above smooth and shining like the gaster and legs; pilosity and colour much as in the soldier, but the fine appressed hairs on the scapes as abundant as on the legs; rich castaneous brown; gaster, except the base of the first segment, darker, almost black; legs and funiculi a little more reddish, the femora infuscated in the middle. Zaïre - mylognatha
-- {short description of image}TL 2.0 mm, CI 94, SI 121; scape just surpasses the occiput; propodeal spines short, near-vertical; postpetiole node about twice as wide as petiole, slightly longer than wide; dull yellow, with the legs and antennae lighter and the mid-gaster brownish. Zaïre & Nigeria - schoutedeni
return to key Head more ovoid with convex sides --
44 {short description of image}Postpetiole short and globular; gaster small and narrow (??) 45
-- {short description of image} {short description of image} Postpetiole relatively elongate 46
45 {Pheidole saxicola minor}TL 2.7 to 3 mm, CI 92, SI 100; head subrectangular, as broad in front as behind, with straight, subparallel sides, rounded posterior corners and nearly straight posterior border; eyes convex, at the middle of the sides; mandibles rather large, deflected at the tip, with denticulate apical borders and two larger terminal teeth; clypeus distinctly carinate, with the anterior border very feebly sinuate in the middle; antennal scapes extending one-third their length beyond the posterior corners of the head; promesonotum profile convex; propodeal dorsum a little longer than the declivity; spines slender, acute, erect, about half as long as their interval; petiole slender, twice as long as broad, scarcely broader behind than in front, with the sides only very faintly concave; node transverse, its border distinctly notched in the middle; postpetiole twice as broad as the petiole, as long as broad, subglobose, not toothed on the ventral side; gaster about as large as the head; shining; mandibles subopaque, finely striatopunctate; sides of head delicately longitudinally rugulose and reticulate; alitrunk, petiole, and postpetiole finely and densely punctate, opaque; upper surface of pronotum and postpetiole smooth and shining; gaster and legs shining, sparsely punctate; erect hairs fine yellowish; scapes, like the legs, with numerous oblique hairs; brown; head darker above and behind; gaster, except the edges of the segments, middle portions of legs, fore coxae, and usually also the pronotum and upper surfaces of the petiolar nodes, darker than the posterior portion of the thorax. Zaïre - saxicola
-- {short description of image}TL 1.8-2.0 mm, CI 97, SI 93-100; propodeal spines minute; mahogany red, extremities more brown, mandibles with distinctive yellow Ethiopia & Central African Republic - philippi
-- {Pheidole retronitens minor}TL 3.5 mm, CI 90, SI 133; head oval; eyes set at the mid-point and occiput narrower, with a weak transverse crest (?nuchal collar); scape surpasses occiput by about one-third its length; generally shiny with a few rugae on the genea and the mesonotum and propodeum partly reticulate; colour black, anterior of head and appendages lighter red-brown to yellow-brown Zaïre ( & Ghana) - retronitens
- Postpetiole relatively elongate --
46 {short description of image}Postpetiole profile globular, in dorsal view widest part almost the posterior margin, with smoothly rounded sides as wide as long; head almost square, with distinctly impressed frontal notch; scapes quite slender and funiculus with narrow segments 47
-- {short description of image} Postpetiole elongate trapezoidal but with no more than weak lateral prominences, ventrally concave, giving profile a somewhat globular appearance 53
- crassinoda-group - aurivilli, costauriensis, crassinoda, escherichii, impressifrons, melancholica & punctulata --
47 {Ph crassinoda face}TL 4.36 mm, CI 76, SI 159 (original description gives a smaller size); postpetiole exceptionally large and bulbous both dorsally and laterally; clypeus medially carinate, shallowly emarginate anteriorly; longitudinal rugae on the genae; petiole produced laterally and the anterior of the peduncle; head, pronotum and gaster; mesonotum, propodeum and pedicel spiculate; erect hairs sparse and relatively short; head and alitrunk brown/dark red-brown, gaster darker to black, appendages lighter with tarsi and antennal clubs brown .
. {Pheidole costauriensis} West Africa - costauriensis
-- Postpetiole with a relatively shallow profile 48
48 {short description of image}TL 4 mm, CI 71, SI 144; base colour piceous (pitch black), appendages more reddish; head ovate, genae with longitudinal rugae, mandibles striate; propodeum dorsum sulcate, spines triangular and obtuse .
. {Pheidole crassinoda} Eastern & Southern Africa - crassinoda
-- TL < 4mm 49
49 TL 2.5-3.0 mm 50
-- TL < 2.5 mm 52
50 TL 3.0 mm; scapes surpass occiput by about two-fifths their length; funiculus segments generally longer than wide; whole of body and tibiae with long pilosity; brown with reddish appendages. West Africa & Congo Basin - aurivillii
-- Scapes surpass occiput by no more than one-third their own length 51
51 {Pheidole punctulata}TL 2.7-3.0 mm, CI 92, SI 116; mostly smooth and relatively shiny, propodeum dull and reticulate; variable brown to yellowish-brown Pan-African - punctulata
-- {Pheidole rotundata}Pheidole rotundata minorTL 3.2 mm, CI 100, SI 103; like punctulata but darker & a little larger; sides of head more strongly striated, frontal area more wider and more angular behind; pronotum with transverse raised dark area; propodeum and sides of mesonotum more strongly reticulate; generally brownish to reddish-brown Southern Africa - rotundata
-- {short description of image}TL 3 mm, CI  83, SI 150; head longer and more rounded posteriorly; dorsum of alitrunk more strongly sculptured; propodeum longer with stronger spines; black or very dark brown, appendages and mandibles brownish. West Africa - melancholica
52 {Pheidole impressifrons SA minor}TL 2.43 mm, HL 0.68, HW 0.62, SL 0.72, PW 0.39; CI 81, SI 123; alitrunk almost all over spiculate, fainter on the dorsal and lateral pronotum;.red-brown, gaster darker but seemingly with diostinctive pale patches (also on major), appendages lighter. South Africa - type form
. CI 91 SI 116; gaster basally somewhat lighter but without distinct patches{Ph species F face} & West Africa (atrocior) - impressifrons
return to key Postpetiole elongate trapezoidal but with no more than weak lateral prominences, ventrally concave, giving profile a somewhat globular appearance
megacephala-group - albidula, corticola, jordanica, maufei, megacephala, mentita, minima, nigeriensis (species B), nkomoana (species E), pallidula, picata, rotundata, squalida, tricarinata, and species A
--
53 {short description of image}Alitrunk profile smoothly domed, as is propodeal profile, propodeal spines reduced to sharp denticles 54
-- {short description of image}Alitrunk profile rather flatter; propodeal spines generally fairly well developed and sharp 59
- Mandibles with two apical teeth and a number of denticles; minima-subgroup - corticicola, decarinata, minima, nigeriensis (species B), tricarinata, and species A --
54 Head more or less rectangular with rounded occipital angles 55
-- Head ovoid with highly rounded occipital angles 56
55 Major only described Guinea - tricarinata
-- {Pheidole species A}TL 1.9 mm, CI 90, SI 112; dorsum of head and entire alitrunk densely spiculate; erect hairs moderately abundant; orange, gaster very dark brown. West Africa - new species - crinensis
-- TL 2.5 mm; head oval-rectangular, mandibles dentate, striate near the base; clypeus without a carina, feebly emarginate; mesonotum with two small ridges behind; propodeum subdentate; sculpturation limited to anterior striations on head and a few striations and reticulations on lateral propodeum (minor similar); erect pilosity yellowish sparse on body and absent from tibiae and scapes; brownish-yellow, legs and antennae dirty yellow South Africa - kitschneri
56 Scape surpassing occiput by no more than one-fifth its length 57
-- Scape surpassing occiput by more than one-fifth its length; metanotal groove distinct on sides of alitrunk 58
57 {Ph species B face}TL 1.56 mm, CI 89, SI 102; short and stocky overall; head in full-face very relatively square, eyes fairly flat, fine nuchal collar; propodeal spines very short but sharp [no original description]; shiny except densely spiculate lateral alitrunk and propodeum; darker than major, legs and funiculi golden-yellow .
. {Pheidole nigeriensis} West Africa (species B) nigeriensis
-- {Pheidole decarinata minor}TL 2.0 mm, CI 86, SI 117; head rectangular slightly longer than wide, posterior angles very rounded, occiptal border straight and weakly impressed (?); eyes set at mid-length and about one-quarter the length of the head; scape surpasses occiput by about one-fifth its length, segments 4-6 of funiculus wider than long, club with apical segment as long as two preceding together; promesonotum smoothly arcuate; propodeum with rectangular dorsum, longer than wide, almost flat and sub-bordered.angles dentate; head, pedicel and gaster, blackish brown; alitrunk and appendages pale reddish brown Sahel zone - decarinata
58 {Pheidole corticicola}TL 2.3 mm, CI 92, SI 129; eyes occupy almost all the second quarter of the sides of the head; frontal area wide and rounded posteriorly; scape surpasses occiput by just under one-third its length; propodeal spines short but thick and about as long as two-thirds the basal interval; smooth and shiny, sides of mesonotum, propodeum and base of petiole reticulate; with abundant long erect pilosity all over; yellow-red to dull brown-red, anterior of head brown-black West Africa & Congo Basin - corticicola
-- {Pheidole minima major}TL 1.6-1.7 mm, CI 85, SI 135; red-yellow or brown-yellow West Africa & Congo Basin - minima
return to key Alitrunk profile rather flatter; propodeal spines generally fairly well developed and sharp; TL usually > 2.0 mm
megacephala-subgroup - albidula, foreli, jordanica, maufei, megacephala, mentita, nkomoana (species E), pallidula, rotundata, squalida, and (unseparable beyond this point); picata (may be only known from Madagascar)
--
59 Relatively elongated and slender with narrow ovoid heads and long appendages 60
-- {short description of image}Shorter and less elongated with shorter heads and appendages 61
60 {Pheidole maufei}TL 2.6-3.0 mm, CI 69; postpetiole with distinctive pyriform shape; head and alitrunk dull with fairly close reticulation, on head latter overlaid with coarse rugose reticulation, middle of vertex shiny; pilosity yellowish, pubescence sparse to nil on body, long oblique on appendages; dark yellowish-brown to brownish-red Zimbabwe - maufei
-- {short description of image}TL 1.8-2.2 mm, CI 89, SI 158; head narrowed and convex behind with indistinct posterior border; eyes very convex; scape surpasses occiput by about one-third its length; promesonotum weakly convex, with an indistinct promesonotal suture; propodeum dorsum twice as long as declivity; petiole as whole insect elongated relative to megacephala West Africa - nkomoana
-- {short description of image}TL 2 mm, CI 100, SI 165; less elongated; the illustrated specimens were associated with majors and are darker than the type description of generally very pale; most of body pale rust yellow, head and scape darker, posterior of gaster and most of legs whitish Cameroun & Zaïre - albidula
Generally shorter and less elongated --
61 {short description of image}TL 2-2.3 mm, CI 94, SI 188; head a long oval longer than wide; antennal insertions with a distinct narrow margin; scapes surpass occiput by about two-fifths their length; narrow nuchal collar present; mesonotum with two transverse ridges; brown-yellow, head and hindleg brown, gaster darker; somewhat similar to aurivilli Ethiopia - escherichii
-- HW = HL, nuchal collar absent 62
62 {Pheidole megacephala face}Propodeum with a shallowly convex profile and quite short sharp spines; head relatively square not very narrowed posteriorly, also relatively shallow and flat in profile 63
-- {Pheidole pallidula}Propodeal profile flat or only weakly convex; head with a domed profile and more convex eyes 64
63 {Ph megacephala details}TL ca 2.5 mm, CI 86, SI 120; shiny, with only sculpturation on mesonotum, propodeum and petiole, all of which are densely spiculate; red-brown, gaster darker, appendages lighter. Pan-African tramp - megacephala
-- {Pheidole jordanica obtusa}TL ca 2.5 mm, CI 80, SI 141; head much paler; legs much longer and distinct groove between pro-and mesonotum (probably not from sub-Saharan) North Africa & Sudan - jordanica
return to key Head with domed profile and more convex eyes; propodeal profile flat or only weakly convex --
64 TL > 3 mm 65
-- TL < 3 mm 66
65 {short description of image}TL 2.2 mm, CI 80, SI 121; head ovoid narrower in front, semi-circular occiput; front area an isoceles triangle extending quite far back between the frontal carinae; eyes set about the mid-point; scape surpassing occiput by about one-third its length; promesonotum profile a low regular curve, from above lozenge-shaped with strongly rounded sides; propodeum dorsum flat with anteriorly oblique slope out of the metanotal groove, declivity concave only one-quarter the length of the dorsum, spines as long as two-thirds their interval and often slightly curved anteriorly; mesonotum punctuate as in a powder; abundant long fine pilosity; clear brownish yellow, head darker, mandibles antennae and legs yellow; gaster dirty yellow in front passing to brownish-black behind Congo - squalida
-- {Pheidole tristis}TL ca 2.3 mm CI 87 SI 120 OI 28 MI 36 PI 60; head a short rectangle with the sides very weakly convex, posterior angles broad and evenly rounded, the occiput straight; with a very narrow nuchal collar; mandibles moderately long, with a mixture of minute teeth and quite coarse teeth on the masticatory margin; and two larger apical teeth; anterior margin of clypeus quite strongly convex, without a median or any other carinae; with only four forward facing, fine long hairs North Africa & Mali - tristis
66 TL 3.0-3.3 mm; pro-mesonotum separated by distinct suture; metanotal groove deep; propodeal spines divergent and raised, declivity vertical shorter than dorsum; gaster narrow, smooth at the base; head superficially puncturate, genae with rugae, whole of alitrunk apart from pronotum dorsum densely puncturate and matt; reddish brown, postpetiole and gaster brownish black, extremities lighter yellowish or rust Guinea - mentita
-- {Pheidole foreli minor}TL 2.8-3.0 mm, CI 93, SI 122; shining, no pro-mesonotal suture; mesothorax and propodeum lightly rugo-reticulate; dark brown to piceous, appendages lighter Photo ID questionable South Africa - foreli

Genus Pheidole Introduction

Contents MYRMICINAE Introduction
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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