Pheidole fabricator

An inhabitant of rainforest. Males were present in a nest at Rancho Grande, Venezuela, during the time of collection, 23-27 June. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
In addition to the syntype from Rio de Janeiro, and a series from Sao Paulo, I have seen a series of fabricator from Rancho Grande, Aragua, Venezuela, 1100 m, col W. L. and D. E. Brown. Kempf (1972b) reports the species in addition from the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil. I have also examined the same or possibly a closely related species from near Belem, Para, Brazil; and from the Guayabero River, Meta, Colombia. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  fabricator. Atta fabricator Smith, F. 1858b: 167 (s.w.q.m.) BRAZIL. Combination in Pheidole: Mayr, 1886c: 360. Senior synonym of nigriventris: Brown, 1981: 528. [P. fabricatrix Schulz, 1906: 155; unjustified emendation.]
 * nigriventris. Atta nigriventris Smith, F. 1858b: 169 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Pheidole: Mayr, 1886c: 360. Junior synonym of fabricator: Brown, 1981: 528.

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

Major: hypostoma 2-toothed; Head Width greater than Head Length; head with mandibles tapering anteriorly, and overall heartshaped; entire anterior dorsal half of head longitudinally carinulate, including frontal triangle and middle section of clypeus.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.12, SL 0.60, EL 0.14, PW 0.54. Minor (Caraguatatuba, Brazil): HW 0.52, HL 0.56, SL 0.52, EL 0.12, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: body reddish brown except for gaster, which is plain dark brown; appendages medium to dark brown.

Minor: head plain medium brown except for the genae, which are yellowish brown; mesosoma brownish yellow; gaster dark brown; appendages light brown.



'''Figure. Upper: syntype, major. Lower: minor, associated with a major that was compared with syntype major (Reserva Floresta, Caraguatatuba, 40-80 m, Sao Paulo, Brazil, col. W. L. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
and - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L fabricator, maker, builder. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Kempf, W. W. 1972b. Catálogo abreviado das formigas da região Neotropical. Stud. Entomol. 15: 3–344.

Smith, F. 1858. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum, Part VI: Formicidae. London: British Museum, 216 pp.

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