Diagnosis. Minor worker. Small (TL ≈ 2.3–2.9 mm); body reddish brown to dark reddish brown, head usually slightly darker than mesosoma; antennae and legs lighter, yellowish brown to orangish brown; gaster often darker posteriorly; head, mesosoma, and waist punctate to weakly foveolate, sculpture stronger on lateral mesosoma and propodeum; median dorsum of head and gaster mostly smooth and shiny; erect to suberect setae abundant over body; appressed to decumbent pubescence sparse, especially on head and mesosoma. Head longer than wide, subrectangular, posterior margin nearly straight to weakly convex; occipital carina weak; mandibles triangular, apical tooth longest, followed by approximately 5–6 smaller teeth or denticles; frontal carinae short, not concealing antennal insertions. 12 antennomeres, with a distinct 3-segmented apical club; scapes surpassing posterior margin of head by more than one-third of their length; eyes moderately large and convex, situated slightly anterior to midlength of head; ocelli absent. Dorsal mesosomal profile strongly interrupted; promesonotum elevated and evenly convex, metanotal groove deep and distinct, propodeum lower than promesonotum; propodeal spines short, triangular, directed posteriorly to slightly upward; legs of moderate length; mid and hind tibiae each with a single simple spur. Waist two-segmented; petiole pedunculate, node low to moderately raised, rounded to weakly conical, ventral surface flat to weakly convex; postpetiole broader than petiole, rounded and weakly globular. Sting reduced.

Major worker. Generally similar to the minor worker in overall morphology, but larger and more robust (TL ≈ 3.4–4.2 mm). Head greatly enlarged, larger than mesosoma, about as long as wide, subrectangular to weakly cordate; posterior margin deeply concave medially, posterior corners broadly rounded and expanded; frons with strong, relatively regular longitudinal rugae extending posteriorly from the clypeal region and frontal lobes; median longitudinal impression distinct; posterior portion of head and occipital lobes mostly smooth and shiny; mandibles enlarged, triangular to elongate-triangular; apical tooth distinct, remaining teeth reduced to low teeth or minute denticles; scapes short, extending only to the posterior third of the head and not reaching the posterior margin. Mesosoma and waist similar to those of the minor worker but more robust; promesonotum high and convex, metanotal groove deeply impressed, propodeum distinctly lower than promesonotum. Petiolar node moderately raised, rounded to weakly conical; postpetiole broader than petiole, rounded and weakly globular. Sting reduced.

Queen. Similar to the major worker in general appearance, but distinctly larger and more robust (TL ≈ 4.8–5.8 mm). Head subquadrate to weakly rectangular, about as long as wide or slightly wider than long; eyes large and strongly convex; ocelli present. Mesosoma enlarged for flight, robust; mesoscutum broadly rounded anteriorly and forming the highest point of the mesosoma. Propodeal spines reduced to short, posteriorly directed triangular teeth. Wings, when present, hyaline to faintly yellowish, with pale brown venation and a light brown pterostigma. Waist similar to that of the major worker but more robust; postpetiole weakly globular to nodiform. Gaster large, smooth and shiny to weakly shagreened.

Male. Small and slender (TL ≈ 3.0–3.6 mm), winged; body bicolored, with head dark brown to blackish brown and mesosoma, waist, and gaster yellowish brown to light reddish brown; antennae and legs pale yellowish brown; wings hyaline to faintly yellowish; head finely rugoreticulate and punctate, with weak longitudinal rugulae on frons, between eyes, and around ocelli; surface subopaque to weakly shining; remainder of body mostly smooth and shiny, with weak punctation in places. Head wider than long; head capsule, excluding eyes, narrow and subtriangular to weakly hexagonal; posterior margin short and weakly convex between lateral ocelli; eyes extremely large and strongly convex, occupying more than half the head length and situated on the lower lateral portion of the head; ocelli present. Antennae with 13 antennomeres; scapes short, much shorter than eye length; mandibles small, triangular, with reduced dentition. Mesosoma enlarged for flight; propodeum unarmed; petiole elongate, with node low and only weakly raised above the peduncle; postpetiole low and rounded. Wings hyaline to faintly yellowish, with typical myrmicine venation.

Similar species. Workers of Pheidole dentata are most similar to those of P. bicarinata. Minor workers of P. dentata can be distinguished by their darker reddish-brown coloration, longer scapes, deeply impressed metanotal groove, and more strongly interrupted dorsal mesosomal profile. Major workers differ from those of P. bicarinata in having a largely concolorous reddish-brown to orange-brown body, a deeply concave posterior margin of the head, strong longitudinal rugae on the frons, mostly smooth and shiny occipital lobes, and a deeply impressed metanotal groove. In both worker castes, the propodeal spines are short and triangular. Pheidole dentata is also more frequently associated with forested habitats, whereas P. bicarinata is more commonly found in open or sandy habitats.

Biology/Habitat. Pheidole dentata is a common species in the southeastern United States. This species can be found in a wide variety of habitats, especially wooded areas but also occasionally in open areas. Nests are typically in rotting wood but may extend into the soil and humus. Mature colonies may be large with thousands of workers and either single or multiple queens.

Pest Status. Pheidole dentata is not considered an economic pest, but may enter dwellings to search food and pose a very minor nuisance pest (Smith 1965).

Literature Cited. Smith, M.R. 1965. House-infesting ants of the Eastern United States, their recognition, biology, and economic importance. United States Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin No. 1326: i-105.