Pheidole praeses

The species occurs in montane rainforest. The Boraceia Biological Station series contains an ordinary queen, but that from Santa Tereza is accompanied by a large ergatogyne. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type locality and Santa Tereza, Espírito Santo, 700 m, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  praeses. Pheidole praeses Wilson, 2003: 735, figs. (s.w.) BRAZIL.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar to Pheidole guilelmimuelleri (see also Pheidole antillana, Pheidole bucculenta, Pheidole heyeri, Pheidole hortonae, Pheidole rhytifera; and Pheidole mamore in the scrobifera group), differing in the following combination of traits.

Major: very large, humerus very prominent and subangulate in dorsal-oblique view; mesonotal convexity flattened, its anterior edge subangulate; very shallow antennal scrobes present; a tiny patch of rugoreticulum exists laterad to each antennal fossa.

Minor: occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar; transverse carinulae circling most of the posterior half of the head capsule and covering all of the pronotal dorsum; posterior half of mesopleuron and sides of propodeum longitudinally carinulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 2.28, HL 2.34, SL 1.08, EL 0.24, PW 1.02. Paratype minor: HW 0.82, HL 0.92, SL 1.12, EL 0.16, PW 0.56.

COLOR Major: overall reddish yellow; anterior fourth of head and mandibles increasingly dark in an anterior direction, so that the mandibles are light reddish brown.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.



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

Type Material
BRAZIL: Boraceia Biological Station, Mun. Salesópolis, São Paulo, 850 m, col. W. L. Brown.

Etymology
L praeses, guard, protector.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Pizo, M.A. 2008. The Use of Seeds by a Twig-Dwelling Ant on the Floor of a Tropical Rain Forest. Biotropica 40(1):119-121