Pheidole kugleri

The type series was collected from primary forest on a steep hillside above farmland. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Peru.

Description
A member of the “jujuyensis complex” of the larger fallax group, comprising Pheidole araneoides, Pheidole cuevasi, Pheidole durionei, Pheidole jujuyensis, Pheidole kugleri, Pheidole leonina, Pheidole leptina, Pheidole lucretii, Pheidole lupus, Pheidole paraensis, Pheidole punctithorax, Pheidole tijucana, Pheidole wallacei and Pheidole wolfringi. P. kugleri is easily distinguished from the other species by the following traits.

Major: antennal scapes exceed occipital corners by twice their maximum width; carinulae originating on frontal lobes and along frontal carinae spread laterally out to create a fan-like pattern, with those coming from the more anterior parts of the frontal carinae turning almost horizontal to travel toward the sides of the head; rugoreticula on each side of the head extend from the eye to the antennal fossa; occiput narrowed, the nadir of its cleft deep and rounded; promesonotum and all surfaces of the propodeum carinulate.

The holotype is more heavily sculptured than the average.

Minor: unknown.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.34, HL 1.50, SL 1.34, EL 0.24, PW 0.68. COLOR Major: body dark brown, appendages medium brown.



'''Figure. Holotype, major. PERU: 3 km north of Oxacampa, Pasco, 2000 m (Charles Kugler and R. R. Lambert). No minors available.Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Locality Information
PERU: 3 km north of Oxacampa, Pasco, 2000 m (Charles Kugler and R. R. Lambert).

Etymology
Named after Charles Kugler, in recognition of his research in myrmecology and his extraordinary collections of Pheidole made in Colombia and other parts of South America.