Big Headed Ant

Foraging Characteristics

Small, light brown to reddish brown to nearly black, dull ants. Often foraging in columns. Two worker sizes, although the major (larger, soldier worker) is rare. Majors may appear near baits. Major's head is disproportionately larger then body. No workers intermediate in size will be found. Slow moving.

Nest Sites & Characteristics

Nests in soil or under stones, logs, wood, or debris. P.megacephala foraging trails are sometimes solid-Covered and resemble subterranean termite foraging tubes. Multiple queens. P.megacephala colonies can be spread out into mega colonies with multiple sub nests.

Detailed Description

2.4 mm (1/10 in) (P.megacephala minors) and 3.8 mm (1/7 in) (P.megacephala majors) long. Front half of head sculptured, back half-smooth and shiny. Two-segmented petiole, where postpetiolar node is distinctly broader then long and sub angular on each side. Twelve-segmented antennae with three-segmented club. Epinotal spines on propodeum. There are some 15 Pheidole species in Florida. The bilobed head of P.megacephala majors is characteristic. Subfamily myrmicinae.