Pheidole sitiens
This record describes Pheidole sitiens (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Shiny headed majors with long antennal scapes, among other notable differences with similar US species. Minors with very small propodeal spines. Restricted range in the US.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Attini
- Genus
- Pheidole (Big-headed Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Drier areas in the South Texas Plains.
Geographic Range
So far only recorded from southwestern TX along the border, roughly from Del Rio to Uvalde to Falcon. Almost certainly found in adjacent areas of Mexico but no specimens from south of the border as of this writing.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pheidole sitiens Wilson 2003
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pheidole sitiens. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Pheidole sitiens (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steven Wang
Frequently Asked Questions About Pheidole sitiens
What is Pheidole sitiens?
Pheidole sitiens is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Pheidole sitiens?
Shiny headed majors with long antennal scapes, among other notable differences with similar US species. Minors with very small propodeal spines. Restricted range in the US.
Where is Pheidole sitiens found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Drier areas in the South Texas Plains. |
| Range | So far only recorded from southwestern TX along the border, roughly from Del Rio to Uvalde to Falcon. Almost certainly found in adjacent areas of Mexico but no specimens from south of the border as of this writing. |