Pheidole ryukyuensis

Japanese Name

Naga-oozu-ari

Ogata, K. (1982) Taxonomic study of the ant genus Pheidole Westwood of Japan, with a description of a new species. Kontyž 50: 189-197.

Total length of body around 3.5 mm in soldiers, around 2 mm in workers. Body color reddish-brown. In soldiers: gular dentition with 3 distinct median projections; head elongate, about 1.2 times as long as wide; mesonotal area not raised separately from pronotum. In workers: posterior portion of head flat, with weakly concave posterior margin and no occipital carina; gular dentition undeveloped; median longitudinal carina present on clypeus; lateral portion of pronotum smooth and shining, without sculpturing; remaining features as given for soldier.

P. ryukyuensis is found in rather moist habitats, nesting in decayed wood, in the soil or under stones in woodland (Ogata, 1982). Soldiers may store liquid food in their crops (Tsuji, 1990c).

Ishigaki I., Iriomote I.