Pheidole inquilina
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidole_inquilina
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Pheidole inquilina faces significant threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation of its specialized forest environments. As a socially parasitic ant species dependent on specific host colonies, any disruption to the delicate ecological balance of its habitat severely impacts both the parasite and its hosts. Agricultural expansion and urban development continue to reduce the available forest patches where this species can maintain its complex parasitic relationships.
Habitat
Pheidole inquilina inhabits tropical and subtropical forest environments where it maintains its parasitic relationship with host Pheidole colonies. The species requires intact forest ecosystems with stable microclimates and established ant communities to support its specialized social parasitic lifestyle.
