Pheidole bayeri Forel new status

Type location Zaïre (Pheidole caffra Em. r. Bayeri n. stirps, Forel, 1916: 413, major & minor) from Kasindi, by Bayer - see below .

Forel's (1916) description is at .

It is quite clear from the original Emery description that true Pheidole caffra Emery does not have strongly marked sculpturation on the occiput and the frontal carinae reach the posterior quarter of the head; the colour also is given as ferruginous dull with the gaster piceous and shiny. It is my view that the common fault of Forel in defining subspecies or varieties rather than species led to confusion. Therefore, I have raised the quite distinctive dark bayeri to full species status and have separated Pheidole senilifrons Wheeler (with thysvillensis as a probable synonym).
If my interpretation is correct the minor has the scape with numerous erect hairs.

The photomontage of a type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907818.

The photomontage of a type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907819.

Major workers - Minor workers

Oxford University Museum specimens

Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. major	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 5	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl major & minor	3
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. major & minor	Liberia E Poirier Yekepa Camp 4 PF 12	6.iv.2013 Nimba County 07°33’04" N 08°33’17" E	Pitfall trap Floodplain & marsh 501 m asl major & minor	4
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. major	Ghana S Sky Stephens 06G0039	2006	In personal collection of S Sky Stephens	1
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. major	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 3043.2	27.ii.2013 Koro 09°22'21'' N 02°40'13'' E	Mangifera indica orchard prey of Oecophylla longinoda 0800-0900 h major	1
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 3077.1	6.iii.2013 Koro 09°22'21'' N 02°40'13'' E	Mangifera indica orchard prey of Oecophylla longinoda 0800-0900 h major	1
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 3099.20	9.xi.2011 Kika-Beterou 09°14'07'' N 02°11'52'' E	running on the ground major	1
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. minor	Gabon Y Braet Gabon 33	16.vii.2006 Pongara 00°34' N 09°19' E	Pointe Denis; savannah (pitfall trap, edge of beach) (LV)	1
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. minor	Gabon Y Braet Gabon 81	9.vi-25.vi.2006 Pongara 00°34' N 09°19' E	Pointe Wingombe; under trees, malaise trap	3
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det.	Gabon Y Braet Gabon 69	9.vi-26.vii.2006 Pongara 00°34' N 09°19' E	Point Wingombe, botanic path, malaise trap	1
Pheidole bayeri B Taylor det. minor	Cameroun A Fotso Kuate Pheidole sp14	20.vii.2007 Awae II 03°54'30" N 11°25'58" E	Tuna bait in forest	1