{"id":594,"date":"2024-09-10T10:01:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T14:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/?p=594"},"modified":"2026-05-18T13:08:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T17:08:44","slug":"pheidole-obscurithorax-and-pheidole-parva-let-the-big-girls-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/2024\/09\/10\/pheidole-obscurithorax-and-pheidole-parva-let-the-big-girls-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Pheidole obscurithorax and Pheidole parva: Let the Big Girls Play"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a1884c9a2313&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a1884c9a2313\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"586\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1150.jpg\" alt=\"Pheidole obscurithorax soldier bulldozes its way past Pheidole parva soldiers.\" class=\"wp-image-595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1150.jpg 900w, https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1150-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1150-768x500.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pheidole obscurithorax <\/em>soldier bulldozes its way past<em> Pheidole parva<\/em> soldiers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Pheidole obscurithorax<\/em> is the largest <em>Pheidole <\/em>species in Florida, whereas <em>Pheidole parva<\/em> is one of the smaller exotic species that is new to the area. Whereas the majors of <em>P. obscurithorax<\/em> can have total lengths of more than 6 mm and head widths of more than 1.7 mm, the tinier <em>P. parva<\/em> majors have head widths of only 0.8 mm and total lengths at around 2 mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This discrepancy in scale came into play when a <em>P. obscurithorax <\/em>colony barged into the bait meant for a nearby <em>P. parva<\/em> colony.  The intrusion of the <em>P. obscurithorax<\/em> workers prompted the build-up in the <em>P. parva<\/em> soldiers, who by the end of the melee made up almost all the visible workers. This in turn summoned the very large <em>P. obscurithorax<\/em> soldiers, and I thought they would easily push aside the smaller ants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<br><br>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a1884c9a2aed&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a1884c9a2aed\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"578\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1147.jpg\" alt=\"Pheidole parva soldiers swarm around the Pheidole obscurithorax major.\" class=\"wp-image-596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1147.jpg 900w, https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1147-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1147-768x493.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pheidole parva<\/em> soldiers swarm around the <em>Pheidole obscurithorax<\/em> major.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I was surprised at the efficiency of the <em>P. parva<\/em> soldiers, who swarmed the much larger ants and seemed to concentrate their attacks on the legs of the latter. Within a few minutes there were 4 or 5 <em>P. obscurithorax<\/em> soldiers pinned and being dismembered in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was not accomplished without cost though, and the bodies of  dead and mutilated <em>P. parva<\/em> soldiers was everywhere in evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a1884c9a30b8&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a1884c9a30b8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"514\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1155.jpg\" alt=\"Pheidole parva soldiers drags dismembered Pheidole obscurithorax major.\" class=\"wp-image-597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1155.jpg 900w, https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1155-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DSC_1155-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pheidole parva<\/em> soldiers drags dismembered <em>Pheidole obscurithorax<\/em> major.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pheidole obscurithorax is the largest Pheidole species in Florida, whereas Pheidole parva is one of the smaller exotic species that is new to the area. Whereas the majors of P. obscurithorax can have total lengths of more than 6 mm and head widths of more than 1.7 mm, the tinier P. parva majors have head&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_siteseo_robots_primary_cat":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,19,6],"tags":[16,13,21,18],"class_list":["post-594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-macrophotography","category-observations","category-species-observations","tag-observations","tag-pheidole-obscurithorax","tag-pheidole-parva","tag-war"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=594"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":598,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594\/revisions\/598"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyapa.com\/pheidole\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}