Pheidols

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Pheidols
Pheidole megacephala

Pheidole megacephala

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera)
Family : Ants (Formicidae)
Subfamily : Knot ants (Myrmicinae)
Tribe : Pheidolini
Genre : Pheidols
Scientific name
Pheidols
Westwood , 1839
Head of Pheidole flavens
Pheidole hyatti

Pheidole is a genus of ants (Formicidae) and belongs to the subfamily of knot ants (Myrmicinae). Along with Crematogaster and Camponotus , this group is one of the most species-rich and individual ant genera. The “major” workers, who are usually clearly delineated by their body size, have given the genus Pheidole the nickname “big headed ants”.

features

In all Pheidole species, the working class is strongly dimorphic in size. There are always two types of infertile females in individual colonies: the small "minor" workers of two to four millimeters in length with a normal build and next to them the "major" workers or "soldiers". The soldiers generally have very large heads and mandibles compared to their usually moderate body length of 2.5 to 6 millimeters. The antennas consist of 12 segments, with the three apical members formed into a club. The pronotum , which in some species has two thorns, and the mesonotum are very high. The metanotum drops steeply and the petiolus is very deep.

distribution

The genus Pheidole is a globally widespread and ecologically dominant genus with around a thousand species. The main distribution area extends over the tropical areas of the earth, but it is also often found in subtropical and occasionally in temperate climates. No species is represented in Central Europe , the best-known species from Southern Europe is Pheidole pallidula.

Way of life

It can be seen that the “major” workers of a Pheidole colony are mostly shy despite their “soldier” look and are often the first workers to flee in case of danger. In most cases the "soldiers" are used inside the nest to break up larger pieces of food, or outside the nest to transport larger items.

Systematics

The following nine species are native to Europe:

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Genus Pheidole. Japanese Ants Image Database, accessed July 8, 2008 .
  2. ↑ Genus Pheidole. Australian Ants Online, archived from the original on December 6, 2008 ; Retrieved July 20, 2013 .
  3. ^ Edward O. Wilson : Pheidole in the New World: A Hyperdiverse Ant Genus. Harvard University Press, 2003
  4. ^ Pheidole Westwood , 1839. Hymenoptera Online (HOL), Ohio State University, accessed December 3, 2017: "Valid Subordinate Taxa, Species: 1,016."
  5. ^ Pheidole Westwood 1839. Fauna Europaea, accessed July 8, 2008 .

Web links

Commons : Pheidole  - collection of images, videos and audio files