Pheidole pilispina

Nothing is known about the biology of pilispina.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type locality and Barro Colorado Island, Panama. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Panama.

Nomenclature

 *  pilispina. Pheidole pilispina Wilson, 2003: 733, figs. (s.w.) PANAMA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar to Pheidole pidax of Colombia, distinguished from it and other Pheidole as follows.

Major: yellow; humerus very prominent, in dorsal-oblique view extending from rest of promesonotal profile as a large equilateral triangle; in full-face view occiput much broader than clypeus, and occipital cleft shallow, giving entire head a wedge shape; rugoreticulum extensive from eye to antennal fossa posterior to frontal carina on each side of head; rest of dorsal surface of head carinulate, except for frontal triangle and mid-clypeus; all of mesosoma and waist foveolate; lateral corners of genae in full-face view right-angulate; postpetiole from above oval.

Minor: humeri bluntly spinose, with a long seta emerging form the apex of each; occiput narrow and with a nuchal collar; all of head, mesosoma, and waist foveolate to varying degree; pilosity sparse.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.06, HL 1.12, SL 0.60, EL 0.12, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.60, SL 0.64, EL 0.10, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major and minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
PANAMA: Nusagandi, San Blas, col. Leeanne Tennant-Alonso.

Etymology
L pilispina, hairy spine, alluding to the long setae on apices of humeri in minor caste.