Pheidole lupus

Nothing is known about the biology of lupus.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Peru.

Nomenclature

 *  lupus. Pheidole lupus Wilson, 2003: 320, figs. (s.w.) PERU.

Description
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. P. lupus is distinguished as follows.

Major: antennal scape just reaches occipital corner; rugoreticulum on each side of head runs in a swath from eye to antennal fossa; carinulae extend no further than halfway from level of eye to level of occiput; in full-face view occiput and narrow zone running from it around midline foveolate; pronotal dorsal profile in dorsal-oblique view bilobate; propodeal spines small, equilaterally triangular; pilosity very dense and long, many hairs as long as Eye Length.

Minor: pilosity very dense and long, many hairs as long as Eye Length; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; occiput drawn into neck, with nuchal collar.

Measurements (mm)_Holotype major: HW 1.16, HL 1.28, SL 1.06, EL 0.24, PW 0.64. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.74, SL 1.00, EL 0.20, PW 0.40.

Color: Major: body dark brown except for head anterior to eyes, which is medium reddish brown; mandibles medium reddish brown; other appendages yellowish brown.

Minor: body medium brown; appendages light brown except for tarsi, which are yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
PERU: Estácion Biologica de Cocha Cashu, Madre de Dios, 400 m, col. Diane W. Davidson.

Etymology
L lupus, wolf.

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