The Ants of Africa
Genus Pheidole
Pheidole albidula Santschi

megacephala-group - Major head width and length equal or subequal; mandibles relatively slender, with at most reduced teeth or denticles; postpetiole trapezoidal but without elongated lateral prominences. Minors without or variable development of a nuchal collar.

megacephala-subgroup - TL > 3.3 mm

Pheidole albidula Santschi

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Zaïre (Pheidole albidula n. sp., Santschi, 1928f: 205, major and minor) Kisambo, V Kino - see below.
Major and minor described (see Bolton, 1995) .

Santschi's (1928f) description is at {original description}.

{Pheidole albidula major}The photomontage of a type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0913260.

{Pheidole albidula minor}The photomontage of a type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0913261.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.

 Cameroun
H Koch

 11.iii.2006
Banyong Mbo
5°00' N
9.167° E
 from debris in Campylospermum axils
 2
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.		 Cameroun
H Koch
 12.iii.2006
Banyong Mbo
5°00' N
9.167° E		 from debris in Campylospermum axils 2
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det. 		Cameroun
A Fotso Kuate
Sample 13b
 1.ix.2008
Mungo
03°54'30" N
11°25'58" E
2
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.		 Cameroun
A Fotso Kuate
Sample 5

 31.viii.2008
Bilvom
03°54'30" N
11°25'58" E

2
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.		 Gabon
L Volait
Gabon 71		 9.vi-26.vii.2006
Pongara
00°34' N
09°19' E		 Pointe Denis; savannah, pitfall in grove of trees
1
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.		 Gabon
L Volait
Gabon 72		 9.vi-26.vii.2006
Pongara
00°34' N
09°19' E		 Pointe Denis; savannah, pitfall in grove of trees
1
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.		 Gabon
L Volait
Gabon 74		 9.vi-26.vii.2006
Pongara
00°34' N
09°19' E		 Pointe Denis; savannah, pitfall in grove of trees
1
 {album}
Pheidole albidula
B Taylor det.		 Gabon
L Volait
Gabon 78		 9.vi-26.vii.2006
Pongara
00°34' N
09°19' E		 Pointe Denis; savannah, pitfall in grove of trees
2
 {album}

{Pheidole albidula major}The photomontage is of specimens collected in Cameroun, at Banyong Mbo, by Hauke Koch, 11.iii.2006, from debris in Campylospermum axils.
The major clearly matches Santschi's description, with the row of strong hairs on the posterior border of the basal gaster tergites being distinct, also the relatively small eyes, more convex sides to the head, and the colouration, including the visibility of the gut through the gaster cuticle.
The size and arrangement of the teeth or processes on the hypostoma or hypostomal border on the anterior underside of the head are quite different to on Pheidole megacephala. With albidula the arrangement is a pair of well developed submedian teeth, set close to the midpoint, whereas on megacephala there is only a pair of lateral teeth.
The minor (shown below), which Santschi felt unable to distinguish from megacephala has a narrower head, with bristly scapes and a nuchal collar; also there are longitudinal rugae on the genae; the postpetiole is more globular in both dorsal and lateral views. 

{Pheidole albidula major} The photomontage is of a second major collected in Cameroun, at Banyong Mbo, by Hauke Koch

{Pheidole albidula major}The photomontage is of a major from Cameroun; Bilvom; collector A Fotso Kuate (fk unmounted 05).

{Pheidole albidula worker}The photomontage is of a minor collected in Cameroun, at Banyong Mbo.

{Pheidole albidula minor}The photomontage is of a minor from Cameroun; Bilvom; collector A Fotso Kuate (fk unmounted 05).
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© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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