Pheidole caribbaea

Nothing is known about the biology of caribbaea.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from Jamaica, an apparent endemic. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Jamaica.

Nomenclature

 *  caribbaea. Pheidole caribbaea Wheeler, W.M. 1911a: 23 (s.w.q.m.) JAMAICA. Senior synonym of sloanei: Wilson, 2003: 272.
 * sloanei. Pheidole caribbaea subsp. sloanei Wheeler, W.M. 1917g: 459 (s.w.q.) JAMAICA. Junior synonym of caribbaea: Wilson, 2003: 272.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A brown member of the fallax group whose major has the dorsal surface of the head completely covered with longitudinal parallel carinulae, except the extreme occipital strip (seen in full-face view), which is smooth and shiny; pronotum and anterior mesonotum completely covered with transverse carinulae; postpetiolar node trapezoidal; anterior half of the first gastral tergite shagreened; and head densely covered with mostly erect to suberect hairs.

Close to Pheidole mantilla of Costa Rica and Pheidole kukrana of Nicaragua but differing in details of head shape, sculpture, pilosity, and color (q.v.); see also cardinalis, obscurior, rubiceps.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.12, HL 1.20, SL 0.96, EL 0.20, PW 0.58. Syntype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.66, SL 0.92, EL 0.14, PW 0.34.

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

Minor: body concolorous medium brown, appendages medium to yellowish brown.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
JAMAICA: Balaclava. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Refers to region of origin. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Wheeler, W. M. 1911a. Additions to the ant-fauna of Jamaica. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 30: 21–29.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.