Pheidole laevifrons

Nothing is known about the biology of laevifrons.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  laevifrons. Pheidole laevifrons Mayr, 1887: 598 (s.) BRAZIL. See also: Wilson, 2003: 199.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A small, yellow member of the diligens group, distinguished as follows.

Major: cephalic sculpturing limited to the anterior third of the head, level with and anterior to the eyes; moderately abundant pilosity; relatively short propodeal spines. Close to Pheidole peregrina, but major with much shallower occipital cleft in frontal view, thinner petiolar peduncle and node in side view, and more mesad placement of cephalic rugoreticulum.

Minor: thicker propodeal spines and longer scapes. Also similar to Pheidole triconstricta but with much denser pilosity, shallower occipital cleft, and bilobous as opposed to trilobous promesonotal profile in dorsal-oblique view.

See also the less similar Pheidole coffeicola, Pheidole pubiventris, Pheidole seeldrayersi and ''[[Pheidole variegata.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.08, HL 1.06, SL 0.86, EL 0.20, PW 0.54. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.70, SL 0.82, EL 0.14, PW 0.36.

COLOR Major and minor: concolorous yellow.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Santa Catarina. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L laevifrons, smooth or polished front, presumably alluding to the mostly smooth, shiny dorsum of the head of both castes. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Mayr, G. 1887. Südamerikanische Formiciden. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 37: 511–632.

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