| Pheidole purpurea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| P. purpurea minor worker photograph by John T. Longino and www.antweb.org | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. purpurea |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole purpurea J. T. Longino, 2009 | |
Pheidole purpurea is a dimorphic species of ant found in Mexico and Central America.[1] The species shows considerable variance in physical characteristics based on location, though some variance exists even within small populations.[2] Some populations display a metallic, purple sheen.
Dimorphic subdivision
Like many species of the genus Pheidole, P. purpurea is dimorphic, with workers visibly differentiated by head size and shape into "minor" and "major" (or soldier) workers. The head of the major worker can be as much as twice as long and more than twice as wide as that of the minor.[2]
Minor and major workers of P. purpurea
Minor worker
photograph by John T. Longino and www.antweb.org
Minor worker, top
photograph by John T. Longino and www.antweb.org
Major worker
photograph by John T. Longino and www.antweb.org
Major worker, top
photograph by John T. Longino and www.antweb.org
References
- ↑ "Species: Pheidole purpurea". antweb.org. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
- 1 2 Longino, J. T., 2009, Additions to the taxonomy of New World Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa (2181), pp. 1-90: 67-70 Archived 2013-04-15 at archive.today
External links
Media related to Pheidole purpurea at Wikimedia Commons
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