Forum Entomologi Italiani

sotto pietra

operaia mm 2.8
soldato mm 3.5

Pheidole pallidula, very common species in Mediterranean area with big polymorphy of workers.

Some colonies are red and other colonies are brown. Does it make any difference?
Here some red ones fighting with Aphaenogaster. (Lazio, Tolfa 2010)
luigi

In S Europe occur two species of Pheidole. P. pallidula is very common and usually is coloured yellow to reddish yellow but some colonies are brown and in extreme cases workers are almost black. The second species P. teneriffana is quite rare (in Italy recorded from Sicily), mostly anthropogenic (inhabitink parks, grass areas in cites etc.), usually darker coloured. Major workers are well distingusihable by whole head with strong longitudinal sculpture (in P. pallidule the sculpture is fain and reduced to lower 1/4-1/3 part of head).

thanks
luigi

So this should be the brown version o Pheidole pallidula, that could better be named Pheidole abbronzatula .
I apologize for the quality of the photos; the light was difficult.
luigi

(Tolfa, Lazio, Roma, 15-1-2011)

Yes, it is. I observed similar dark colonies in mountains of Mallorca (Baleares) while in littoral area predominates light yellow form.

In the area where I took theese photos, colonies of both colours are random represented together.
luigi