Pheidole tragica

This species is only known from type specimens. Nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  tragica. Pheidole tragica Wheeler, W.M. 1934g: 167 (s.w.) MEXICO. See also: Wilson, 2003: 526.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A somewhat larger brown species, whose major has a bicolorous head, rugoreticulum mesad to the eye, conspicuous foveae scattered over the otherwise smooth posterior half of the dorsal head capsule, and cornulate postpetiole. The mesonotum of the major and minor has no dorsal convexity, and its posterior face descends abruptly to the metanotum.

Somewhat similar to Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole caulicola, Pheidole chalca, Pheidole nitidicollis, Pheidole mixteca and Pheidole scabriventris, but easily distinguished by combinations of many or all of the above traits.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.20, SL 0.60, EL 0.18, PW 0.56. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.58, SL 0.50, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: head bicolorous, with anterior third brownish yellow and posterior two-thirds medium brown; rest of body concolorous medium brown.

Minor: body concolorous medium brown.



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

Type Material
A single soldier and three workers (No. A39) taken by Dr. Skwarra at Pedregal, near Mexico City. MEXICO: Pedregal, near Mexico City, col. Elisabeth Skwarra.

Etymology
Gr tragicus, pertaining to tragedy, significance unknown. (Wilson 2003)