The Ants of Africa
Genus Pheidole
Pheidole rugaticeps Emery

rugaticeps group - major postpetiole scarcely or not wider than long, rounded or at most slightly angled at sides

Pheidole rugaticeps Emery

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Eritrea (Pheidole rugaticeps n. sp., Emery, 1877b: 375, major, minor & queen) from Sciotel, Beccari
subspecies arabs (P. rugaticeps Em. var. Arabs, Emery, 1881b: 535, major, minor & queen; stirps of rugaticeps Santschi 1914d: 336) from Yemen (see Bolton, 1995)
major, minor and queen described .

Emery's (1877b) description is at {original description} and {original description}. Emery's (1881b) description of arabs is at {original description}.

Wheeler (1922) also had records of arabs from Senegal (Dakar and Thiès, F. Silvestri); presumably a savannah species. Records from Santschi (1914d).

Collingwood & Agosti (1996), reporting it from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen separated it as - major postpetiole scarcely or not wider than long, rounded or at most slightly angled at sides; HW > 2; sides of head striate to occiput; first gastral tergite partially or totally striate.

In addition to those shown below, identical major and minor specimens from Nigeria and in the BMNH collection can be seen on Antweb at http://www.antweb.org/description.do?name=rugaticeps&genus=pheidole&rank=species&project=allantwebants

It appears the colour is quite variable, perhaps with the eastern populations being more yellow. See the arabs major at http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0904216 and the minor at http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=casent0904217; also the Sudan workers shown below.

Pheidole rugaticeps majorThe photomontage of the type major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904214.

{Pheidole rugaticeps minorThe photomontage of a type minor worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0904214.

Oxford University Museum specimens

{Pheidole rugaticeps major}The photomontage is of a major worker from Mali, Bamako; collector David M. King (King 36).

{Pheidole rugaticeps major}The photomontage is of a major worker from Senegal, Niakafiri; collector B Ndiaye.

{Pheidole rugaticeps minor}The photomontage is of a minor worker from Mali, collected by David M. King (KIng 36).

{Pheidole rugaticeps}The photomontage is of a minor worker from Sudan, Wad Medani; collector Awatif Omer (Sudan 2-3).

Pheidole rugaticeps minorThe photomontage is of a minor worker from Sudan; Abu Gmein, Blue Nile; collector J Mathews (JM IT2).
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© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 - Brian Taylor CBiol FSB FRES
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