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Ants of Zihuatanejo

FAMILY FORMICIDAE

Big-headed Ants
Pheidole (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

-Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)

-Ants, Bees, and Stinging Wasps (Infraorder Aculeata)

-Superfamily Formicoidea

-Ants (Family Formicidae)

-Myrmicine Ants (Subfamily Myrmicinae)

-Myrmicine Ants (Subfamily Myrmicinae)

-Higher Myrmicine Ants (Tribe Attini)

-Big-headed Ants (Genus Pheidole)


Big-headed ants belong to the genus Pheidole. One of the most distinctive features of Pheidole ants is the size difference between the major and minor workers. Major workers (or soldiers) have significantly larger heads and mandibles compared to the smaller minor workers. Pheidole ants construct nests in the ground, often creating simple chambers and tunnels. Some species may also build nests in leaf litter or rotting wood. Big-headed ants are omnivorous and forage for a variety of food sources, including seeds, nectar, insects, and other organic materials. They are known for their aggressive foraging behavior and can often be seen in large numbers.



Diet

  • Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, nectar, honeydew from aphids and scale insects, fungi, dead insects, and other small arthropods.

  • Workers also prey on small invertebrates and scavenge carrion.

  • The large-headed major workers ("soldiers") use their powerful mandibles to crack hard seeds and defend the colony, while the smaller minor workers perform most of the foraging and brood care.

Range

  • The genus Pheidole is distributed worldwide, with over 1,000 described species, making it one of the largest ant genera.

  • Numerous species occur throughout Mexico, including the Pacific coast of Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

  • They inhabit environments ranging from sea level to mountainous regions.

Habitat

  • Occupy tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, pine-oak forests, grasslands, thorn scrub, mangroves, agricultural land, gardens, and urban areas.

  • Nest in soil, beneath rocks, under logs, inside rotting wood, leaf litter, and occasionally beneath pavement or in buildings.

  • Colonies are highly adaptable and may be found in both undisturbed forests and heavily modified habitats.

Size

  • Minor worker: 2–4 mm (0.08–0.16 in)

  • Major worker ("soldier"): 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in)

  • Queen length: 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in)

  • Colonies typically contain hundreds to tens of thousands of workers, depending on the species.

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