Pheidole symbiotica Wasmann, 1909, an enigmatic supposed social parasite, is a nematode-infested form of Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Sociobiology

Lech Borowiec¹  Sebastian Salata¹ 

[1] University of Wroclaw

关键词: Hymenoptera;    Formicinae;    Myrmicinae;    Pheidole;    social parasite;    redescription;    Italy;   

DOI  :  

来源: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil

【 摘 要 】

Pheidole symbioticaWasmann, 1909 hitherto known only from type series collected in Portugal is recorded from Italy for the first time. Dissection of abdomen of this supposed social parasite ofPheidole pallidula(Nylander, 1849) showed that it is infested by a large mermithid nematode. That allows us to conclude thatPheidole symbioticais only a teratological form ofPheidole pallidula . In consequence, we propose synonymy ofPheidole symbioticaWasmann, 1909 underPheidole pallidula(Nylander, 1849). High quality photographs of this form are presented for the first time and an illustration of its parasite is also given.

【 授权许可】

Unknown