Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793)

FISCHER, GEORG., GARCIA, FRANCISCO HITA & PETERS, MARCELL K., 2012, Taxonomy of the ant genus Pheidole Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region: definition of species groups and systematic revision of the Pheidole pulchella group, Zootaxa 3232 (1), pp. 1-43 : 6

P. megacephala group:

Relatively small species (minor worker HW: 0.51–0.66 mm, n=18), with relatively short appendages (SI: 117–122, FI: 106–129) and spines. Minor workers: posterior head margin weakly rounded and eyes with eight or more ommatidia in the longest row. Promesonotum without mesonotal process and often smoothly declining towards metanotal groove, spines very short or minute. Petiole relatively short, postpetiole comparatively large with ventral process. Major workers: head in full-face view often broadest at mid-point or posterior, anteriorly often narrower, head sometimes slightly heart shaped. Longitudinal rugulae mostly ending on frons, upper half of head usually smooth and shiny, antennal scrobe weak to inconspicuous, inner hypostomal teeth mostly very small or inconspicuous and medium tooth absent. Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole similar to minor workers. A number of described species and infraspecific taxa exist for this group ( Pheidole megacephala costauriensis Santschi , P. megacephala duplex Santschi , P. megacephala ilgi Forel , P. megacephala impressifrons Wasmann , P. megacephala melancholica Santschi , P. megacephala nkomoana Forel , P. megacephala rotundata Forel , P. megacephala rotundata Forel , P. megacephala scabrior Forel , P. megacephala speculifrons Stitz , P. megacephala talpa Gerstäcker, P. p i c a t a Forel, P. picata bernhardae Emery , P. picata gietleni Forel , P. punctulata Mayr , P. punctulata atrox Forel , P. punctulata spinosa Forel ), which is in high need of revision.