Pheidole nigella

Nothing is known about the biology of nigella.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from Bolivia and Peru. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Bolivia.

Nomenclature

 * dimidiata. Pheidole dimidiata Emery, 1894c: 160 (s.w.) BOLIVIA. Junior synonym of nigella: Wilson, 2003: 728.
 *  nigella. Pheidole fabricator var. nigella Emery, 1894c: 155 (s.w.) BOLIVIA. Raised to species and senior synonym of dimidiata: Wilson, 2003: 728.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the tristis group similar to Pheidole balzani, Pheidole fabricator and Pheidole tristis, and distinguished from these and other species in the group by the following traits.

Major: small and dark; occiput with very broad, moderately deep median occipital concavity in full-face view; humerus in dorsaloblique view a low, smooth convexity that runs almost indistinguishably into the mesothorax; mesothoracic convexity extremely reduced, barely visible; postpetiolar node oval; weak longitudinal carinulae cover sides of pro no tum.

Minor: humerus with low blunt denticle in dorsal-oblique view; pronotum and mesonotum indistinguishable in a single profile; mesonotal convexity absent.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Major (nigella lectotype): HW 1.06, HL 1.10, SL 0.60, EL 0.14, PW 0.50. Minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.60, SL 0.54, EL 0.10, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major and minor: body concolorous medium brown, appendages brownish yellow.



'''Figure. Upper: major (syntype of synonymous P. dimidiata Emery). Lower: minor (syntype of synonymous P. dimidiata Emery). BOLIVIA: Salinas, Rio Beni, Bolivia; Luigi Balzan. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Salinas, Rio Beni, Bolivia, col. Luigi Balzan. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L nigella, little dark one. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Emery, C. 1894. Studi sulle formiche della fauna neotropica, VI–XVI. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 26: 137–241.

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