Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. The hairs on the mesosoma are fine and flexuous, not arranged in pairs. Used in Antkey to separate Pheidole flavens and Pheidole moerens from Pheidole anastasii, Pheidole bilimeki and Pheidole punctatissima.
A South American native that has been introduced to the U.S. gulf coast. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
A South American native that has been introduced to the U.S. gulf coast Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
The long, sharp jaws of this soldier indicate a predominately predatory species. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
This species stays ahead of the competition using group retrieval of food items (in this case, a scavenged wasp carcass). Working together the ants can usually get the bounty home before a more aggressive species usurps their find. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Close-up view of head, adult worker. Abundant amount of reticulated rugae above eye level. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org, modified.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. Posterolateral lobes with longitudinal carinae frequently being intersected and interrupted by transverse carinae to form a dense mesh of rugoreticulation. This character, combined with the absence of antennal scrobes, is used to separate the major worker of Pheidole obscurithorax from that of Pheidole fervens and Pheidole teneriffana.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. The posterolateral lobes distinctly rugose and the lack of a punctate ground sculpture gives the head a shiny appearance. Used in Antkey to separate the major workers of Pheidole fervens, Pheidole flavens, Pheidole moerens, Pheidole obscurior and Pheidole teneriffana from those of all other Pheidole species.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. The posterior margin of the head is strongly convex and arching strongly towards the eyes. Used in Antkey to separate the minor worker of Pheidole obscurithorax from Pheidole teneriffana (flat margin) and Pheidole fervens (weakly convex).
Anterior view of head, adult worker. Antennal scrobe absent, no depression capable of receiving antennal scapes visible.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. Used to distinguish the major worker of Pheidole obscurithorax from that of Pheidole fervens, Pheidole flavens, Pheidole moerens and Pheidole teneriffana. The first species lacks any depression capable of receiving any portion of the antennae.
Lateral view of waist, adult worker. Petiole and postpetiole strongly sculptured laterally. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org, modified.
Lateral view of waist, adult worker. The postpetiole of the major and minor worker is not distinctly larger in volume than the petiole. Used in Antkey to separate Pheidole fervens, Pheidole obscurithorax and Pheidole teneriffana from Pheidole megacephala.
Lateral view of waist, adult worker. The petiole and postpetiole are covered on all surfaces by a punctate ground sculpture, giving them dull appearances. Used in Antkey to separate the minor worker of Pheidole obsurithorax from that of Pheidole fervens.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. The head is bicolored with the yellowish posterior two-thirds contrasting with the darker brown anterior third and rest of body. Used in Antkey to separate Pheidole punctatissima from Pheidole anastasii and Pheidole bilimeki.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. Posterior head margin relatively narrow and rounded. Photo by Jeremy Pillow, Antweb.org.
Authors: Sarnat and Suarez
Migrated to idtools.org August 2025
Antkey archived on Scratchpad
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