Pheidole is a genus of ant that belongs to the ant subfamily Myrmicinae.

Pheidole mendicula

The genus Pheidole is a widespread and ecologically dominant genus containing as many as a thousand species ^[1].

Most species of Pheidole are dimorphic, which means that a given ant colony contains two kinds of workers: (1) the "minor workers," and (3) the "major" workers, or "soldiers," which generally have enormous heads and mandibles in comparison to their usually fairly modest body size.

In addition, a colony contains one or several queens, and (in mature colonies) virgin, winged females and males, as most ants do.

The distinctive major workers have earned the genus Pheidole the nickname of "big headed ants." The major workers of a Pheidole colony, while they may look fierce, are often quite shy and are often the first to flee on any hint of danger. In most cases, the major workers are utilized within the nest to break up large food items, or outside to carry large items, like seeds; many Pheidole species are ecologically important seed consumers ("harvesters").

External links

• Myrmecos.net images of live ''Pheidole''
• gallery of Pheidole specimen images, on Antweb.org

References

de:Pheidole es:Pheidole it:Pheidole ru:Pheidole

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