Pheidole punctithorax

Nothing is known about the biology of punctithorax.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  punctithorax. Pheidole punctithorax Borgmeier, 1929: 210, pl. 7, fig. 5 (s.w.) BRAZIL. See also: Wilson, 2003: 342.

Description
From Wilson (2003): 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, which complex is characterized by slender body form and exceptionally long scapes and petiolar pedicel; also in the major by a proportionately small head; and in the minor by a strongly developed nuchal collar. P. punctithorax is distinguished as follows.

Major: pilosity sparse; occiput narrowed so that its width in full face is much less than that of the clypeus; a loose, large-celled rugoreticulum is limited to the space mesad to the eyes and forward of it; the humerus and petiolar node are subangulate; all of the occiput, mesosoma, and waist are foveolate and opaque; anterior third of first gastral tergite is shagreened and opaque.

Minor: all of mesosoma and waist, as well as a strip running from the eye to the occiput, foveolate and opaque; neck only moderately narrowed.

Major and minor: reddish brown.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.24, HL 1.32, SL (antennae missing), EL 0.22, PW 0.64. Paratype minor not measured.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium reddish brown.

Minor: gaster light reddish brown, rest of body and appendages medium reddish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: holotype, major (antennae missing from specimen). Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
BRAZIL: Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L punctithorax, punctate chest, evidently referring to the wholly foveolate mesosomas of both castes. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Nascimento Santos M., J. H. C. Delabie, and J. M. Queiroz. 2019. Biodiversity conservation in urban parks: a study of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Rio de Janeiro City. Urban Ecosystems https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-019-00872-8