Pheidole longiseta

The type colony was nesting in a small white-wood rotten log on the floor of terra firme forest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type locality, and from 90 km north of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil (E. O. Wilson).

This taxon was described from Peru.

Description
A medium-sized, brown species with extremely long, relative sparse, erect to suberect pilosity.

Major: the cephalic sculpturing is confined to the anterior half of the head and consists in part of rugoreticulum mesad to the eyes.

Minor: propodeal spine greatly reduced, pronotum smooth and shining.

Similar to Pheidole pubiventris, Pheidole sensitiva and Pheidole variegata (= Pheidole pubiventris)', differing in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity, as illustrated. See also the less similar Pheidole blumenauensis, Pheidole rochai, Pheidole seeldrayersi and Pheidole vafra.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.16, SL 0.88, EL 0.18, PW 0.58. Paratype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.74, SL 0.98, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.

COLOR Major: body medium brown, appendages a slightly contrasting medium yellowish brown.

Minor: head, mesosoma, and peduncles of petiole and postpetiole dark brown; nodes of petiole and postpetiole, gaster, and appendages a contrasting medium brown.



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

Type Locality Information
PERU: Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin).

Etymology
L longiseta, long-haired.