Pheidole galba

Two colonies collected at Cuzco Amazónico were nesting in clay soil of terra firme forest. One of the nests was surmounted by a castle-like superstructure of soil particles. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from the type locality and the Cocha Cashu Biological Station, Manu National Park; also in Madre de Dios, Peru. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Peru.

Description
A member of the fallax group, close to Pheidole huacana and Pheidole oliveirai and distinguished as follows.

Major: yellow; rugoreticulum on each side of the head reaches from the anterior border of the head capsule to a third of the way from eye level to occiput level; at the posterior end the rugoreticula give way to short carinulae that travel obliquely backward toward the sides of the head; rear half of posterior venter of head smooth; posterior third of dorsal surface of head mostly smooth but sprinkled with foveae; vertex rugulose and carinulate; propodeal spines well developed; postpetiolar dorsum smooth.

Minor: propodeal spines well developed; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.82, HL 1.92, SL 1.02, EL 0.26, PW 0.84. Paratype minor: HW 0.72, HL 0.84, SL 1.04, EL 0.18, PW 0.50.

COLOR Major: light reddish yellow.

Minor: clear medium yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
PERU: Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, col. Stefan Cover and J. E. Tobin.

Etymology
L galba, yellow.