Pheidole terresi

From Wilson (2003): In Haiti, the type colonies were recorded as nesting in soil (W. M. Mann), while in the Dominican Republic, the Constanza colony was found beneath a rock in a pine-hardwood forested ravine (W. L. and D. E. Brown).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Hispaniola, recorded from both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, within 800–1600 m. An apparent endemic. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Haiti.

Nomenclature

 * illota. Pheidole terresi var. illota Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1914: 23 (s.w.) HAITI. Junior synoynm of terresi: Wilson, 2003: 523.
 *  terresi. Pheidole terresi Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1914: 22 (s.w.q.) HAITI. Senior synonym of illota: Wilson, 2003: 523.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A medium-sized, concolorous yellow member of the flavens group distinguished in both major and minor by the almost complete absence of sculpturing over the entire body (which is thus smooth and shiny), except for longitudinal carinulae on the anterior half of the head capsule. Further, in the major: a weakly developed but distinct mesonotal convexity in dorsal-oblique view, petiolar node triangular in side view, postpetiolar node subangulate from above.

Minor: pilosity sparse and short, propodeal spine shaped like an equilateral triangle.

Similar species: Pheidole amabilis, Pheidole boliviana, Pheidole melastomae, Pheidole mixteca, Pheidole scitula and especially Pheidole crinita and Pheidole similigena.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.84, HL 0.90, SL 0.42, EL 0.08, PW 0.40. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.38, HL 0.44, SL 0.38, EL 0.06, PW 0.24.

COLOR Major: concolorous clear medium yellow, except for gaster and appendages, which are light yellow.

Minor: concolorous pale yellow.



'''Figure. Upper: major. Lower: minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Diquini, Haiti. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Named after J. B. Terres, one of William M. Mann’s hosts in Haiti. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Wheeler, W. M. and W. M. Mann. 1914. The ants of Haiti. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 33: 1–61.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.