The Ants of Africa
Genus Pheidole
Pheidole species E

teneriffana-group - Major distinguished particularly by the transverse metanotal welt; head with longitudinal striations or rugae, long frontal carinae with more or less distinct shallow scrobes; mandibles with two short apical teeth

{Pheidole nkomoana (species E)}

Pheidole species E

Major - return to key Minor - return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location ??? .

Nigeria specimens (Taylor, 1980a: 20).

Major. TL 3.42 mm, HL 1.18, HW 1.12, SL 0.70, PW 0.50; with faint rugae on the anterior dorsum of the head, frontal carinae long. Colour yellow-brown, gaster darker. Sculpturation restricted to spiculation of lateral mesonotum and propodeum on the minor, even less on the major. Erect hairs relatively long, fine and moderately abundant. Propodeal spines of both morphs narrow, acute, upturned and triangular; also both with the propodeal spiracle relatively large and prominent.

Minor. TL 2.24 mm, HL 0.59, HW 0.50, SL 0.72, PW 0.34

In Nigeria it was a fairly common species nesting in dead wood and crevices and trees, including cocoa. Tends aphids and pseudococcids, and constructs tents of vegetable and arthropod debris. Also found foraging on the ground and on native trees, cashew, kola and oil palm.

Reported from the Mamfe-Mampong cocoa canopy in Ghana and twice in his wider survey of canopy, by Room (1971). Found on cocoa at Kade by Majer (1975, 1976 a, b, c), using pkd, occurring in 13.4% of samples, with 60-160 workers per sample.


{short description of image} The photomontage is of a major from Ghana, collected by Sky Stephens, 2005. Other images can be seen in the folder at - {original description} with a damaged minor in {original description}


{Pheidole species E minor} The photomontage is of a minor from Gabon, Pongara National Park; Gabon 21. 16.vii.2006; Savane Pointe Denis; 0°19.905' N 9°20.188' E; pitfalls alongside the beach; collector L Volait & L V Guieu. Other images can be seen in the folders at - {original description} and {original description}

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© 2007, 2008 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES
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