The Ants of Africa
Genus Pheidole
Pheidole occipitalis André

speculifera-group - major head with convex sides but distinctly widest posteriorly

Pheidole occipitalis André

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server}Type location Sierra Leone (Pheidole occipitalis n. sp., André, 1890: 321, major & minor) collector Mocquerys - see below
subspecies
adami (Pheidole occipitalis André v. adami n. v., Santschi, 1939f: 161, minor) from Guinea, from Iles de Los - no images on Antweb (November 2014)
major & minor described (see Bolton, 1995) .

I have raised the readily separated form Pheidole occipitalis André st. neutralis n. st., Santschi to species status as Pheidole neutralis. The major is significantly larger and has a quite different shape to the occiput, being much more heart-shaped. The minor also is larger.

André's (1890) description is at {original description}. Santschi's (1939f) description of adami is at {original description}.

{Pheidole occipitalis major}The photomontage of a type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907825.

{Pheidole occipitalis minor}The photomontage of a type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907826.

{Pheidole occipitalis major}The photomontage is of a major worker from Benin: J.-F. VAYSSIERES, Korobourou, RVA 3085, 4.iv.2013, M. indica orchard, observed prey of O. longinoda, 1300-1400 h, major worker, n=1.
The original photos can be seen in {album}

{Pheidole occipitalis minor}The photomontage of a type minor worker from Ghana, collector Sky Stephens (06G0013). Similar to but smaller than Pheidole neutralis.
The original photos can be seen in {album}

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© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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