Pheidole monstrosa

Nothing is known about the biology of monstrosa.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Description
A member of the distorta group, closest to Pheidole distorta, Pheidole reclusi and Pheidole scapulata, differing in the following combination of traits.

Major: dorsal half of head in side view moderately concave; occiput, frontal lobes, frontal triangle, and clypeus longitudinally carinulate, rest of dorsal head surface rugoreticulate; dorsa of promesonotum, petiolar node, and postpetiolar node rugoreticulate; anterior fourth of first gastral tergite striate; promesonotum in profile raised and strongly convex, descending to the metanotum through a nearly vertical face.

Minor: almost all of head and all of promesonotal dorsum conspicuously carinulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.42, HL 1.84, SL 0.68, EL 0.20, PW 0.84. Paratype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.64, SL 0.56, EL 0.12, PW 0.42.

COLOR Major: head and mesosoma light to medium reddish brown, waist and gaster dark brown, appendages medium brown.

Minor: body and head dark brown except anterior fifth of gena, which is yellowish brown; appendages medium to dark brown.



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

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Cuiabá, Mato Grosso (James C. Trager).

Etymology
NL monstrosa, strange.