The Ants of Africa

The Ants of Africa
Genus Pheidole
Pheidole escherichii Forel

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 escherichii Forel

Type location Eritrea (Pheidole escherichii n. sp., Forel, 1910c: 254, major, minor & queen); major, minor and queen described (see Bolton, 1995, type location given as Ethiopia) .

Forel's (1910c) description is at .

The majors seem characterised by the open reticulate puncturation over most of the head; relatively long scapes; and abundant quite long erect pilosity.

The minors are characterised by a long oval head, with a raised margin to the antennal insertions; an impressed frontal notch; a fine but distinct nuchal collar; and generally abundant quite long erect pilosity.

{Pheidole escherichii major} The photomontage of a type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907821.

Note: The Antweb scales are wrong. The TL based on the scales is ca 5.5 mm plus. Forel gave the size as L 4.0-4.5 mm. The fresh majors shown below are at the lower end of that size.

{Pheidole escherichii minor} The photomontage of a type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907822.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Pheidole escherichii B Taylor det.	Sudan J Mathews JM 334	3.x.2001 Kordofan 12°56' N 30°35' E	Rahad Research Area pyrethrum fogging of Acacia senegal	1
Pheidole escherichii B Taylor det.	Sudan Awatif Omer 2013.02.29	2013 Abu Hijar 12˚52' N 34˚0' E	minor workers	3
Pheidole escherichii B Taylor det.	Sudan Awatif Omer 2014.13	Wad alaieiz Sinjah 13˚09'0" N 33˚56'0" E	transect minor worker	1
Pheidole escherichii B Taylor det.	Sudan Awatif Omer 2014.18	Wad alaieiz Sinjah 13˚09'0" N 33˚56'0" E	transect major worker	1
Pheidole escherichii B Taylor det.	Ethiopia ex Peter Hlavác	Harer	major worker in personal collection of Peter Hlavác	1

{Ph escherichii major} The photomontage is of a major from Sudan, collector Awatif Omer (2014.18).

{Pheidole escherichii major} The photomontage is of a major from Ethiopia, Harer, from Peter Hlavác.

{Ph escherichii minor} The photomontage is of a minor from Sudan, collector Awatif Omer (2014.13).

Pheidole escherichii minor The photomontage is of a minor worker from Sudan, Kordofan; collector J M Mathews (JM 334).

Š 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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