Ocular duplication of a compound eye in Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849)

This study reports a rare case of unilateral ocular duplication with hypoplasia in the ant Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849), discovered in Córdoba, Spain. The affected soldier ant exhibited two malformed right V[…] i>V Ã[…] and with fewer ommatidia compared to a normal eye. Although visual defects might hinder depth perception and light sensitivity, P. pallidula likely compensates them with other sensory modalities, allowing its complete functional integration into the colony. Potential causes, including genetic mutations, embryonic errors, or environmental stressors, are discussed. This case highlights the adaptive plasticity of eusocial insects in tolerating physical abnormalities and underscores the importance of further studies to explore their ecological and developmental implications.