Pheidole
P. mendicula
Pheidole is a genus of ants ( Formicidae ) and belongs to the subfamily of red ants ( Myrmicinae ). Besides Crematogaster and Camponotus this group is one of the richest and most powerful individual- species of ants at all. Because of body size usually clearly definable "Major" - workers have introduced the genus Pheidole in English the nickname "big headed ants" ( " big-headed ants ").
Features
For all Pheidole species, the worker caste is strong größendimorph. Thus there are two types of single colonies always infertile females: The little "Minor " workers from two to four millimeters in body length with ordinary physique and next to the "major " workers or " soldiers ". The soldiers generally have very large heads and mandibles compared to their usually moderate body length of 2.5 to 6 millimeters. The antennas consist of 12 segments, the three apical elements are formed into a club. The pronotum, which is occupied in some species with two spines, and the mesonotum are very high. The metanotum declines sharply and the petiole is very low.
Dissemination
The genus Pheidole is a globally widespread and ecologically dominant genus. described with about a thousand species. The main distribution area extends across the tropical areas of the world, but they are also found frequently in subtropical and isolated in a temperate climate. In Central Europe, no type is represented, the best-known species from southern Europe is Pheidole pallidula.
Way of life
It is noted that the "major " workers of Pheidole colony looks are mostly shy, despite their "soldiers" and are often the first workers who flee in case of danger. In most cases, the " soldiers " used within the nest to break up larger Futterstückchen, or outside the nest to transport larger items.
System
The following nine species are native to Europe:
- Anastasii Pheidole
- Pheidole cellarum
- Pheidole flavens
- Pheidole kraepelini
- Pheidole megacephala
- Pheidole pallidula
- Pheidole sinaitica
- Pheidole SymbioticA
- Pheidole teneriffana