Threat Level: Low

Pheidole fervens is a common species in the Pacific with two waist segments, 12-segmented antennae, 3-segmented antennal clubs, propodeal spines, long thin pilosity, and a bimorphic worker caste. The minor workers are small, pale to medium yellow and have long legs and long antennal scapes, very small propodeal spines, and no antennal scrobes. Sculpture on the minor worker is restricted to the middle and posterior portions of the mesosoma. The major workers are larger, darker and are have oversized, heavily sculptured heads. The majors also have distinct antennal scrobes and longer propodeal spines than the minors.

Pheidole oceanica is easily confused with Pheidole fervens. The major workers can be distinguished most reliably by the sculpture located between the eye and the antennal insertions. Whereas the carinae of P. fervens are branched, those of P. oceanica are unbranched. Also, the antennal scrobes of P. fervens are more densely punctate than those of P. oceanica. The minor workers of P. oceanica are especially difficult to differentiate from P. fervens. Whereas the propodeal spiracles of P. oceanica are smaller than the propodeal spines, the propodeal spiracles of P. fervens are equal to or larger than their propodeal spines.

Pheidole megacephala can be separated from P. fervens by more obvious means. The heads of P. megacephala major workers lack antennal scrobes are are almost entirely absent of sculpture. The minor workers have shorter antennal scapes and a more swollen appearing postpetiole.

Pheidole fervens recruits strongly to baits and food resources and forms long and busy foraging trails. Minor workers are much more abundant than major workers, both outside of and within the nest.

Pheidole is the most diverse ant genus in the world, and many native and widespread species occur in the Pacific that are not included in PIAkey. If the specimen under investigation does not match any of the PIAkey Pheidole, explore images from Antweb and taxonomic literature pertaining to Pacific ants.