Pheidole nasifera

The nest of the type colony contained a cache of small seeds. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Peru.

Description
A medium-sized member ofthe tristis group similar and in various ways to Pheidole binasifera, Pheidole diabolus, Pheidole gravida, Pheidole mirabilis, Pheidole moseni, Pheidole nasifera, Pheidole rhinoceros and Pheidole unicornis, but sharply distinguished as follows.

Major: a single "nose" (the median carina of the clypeus) protrudes in side view, not accompanied by the frontal lobes; all of dorsal surface of head except occiput covered by carinulae, with those originating from the frontal lobes and along the frontal carinae turning outward to travel to the sides of the head; pronotal dorsum transversely carinulate; petiolar node from above oval.

Minor: propodeal spines reduced to denticles; meso somal dorsum almost completely covered by transverse carinulae; postpetiolar node depressed, and postpetiole cylindrical in overall shape; occipital margin broad and weakly concave.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.16, HL 1.32, SL 0.64, EL 0.18, PW 0.68. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.62,. SL 0.56, EL 0.10, PW 0.36.

COLOR Major: concolorous plain medium brown.

Minor: body dark brown, appendages medium brown.



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

Type Locality Information
PERU: vicinity of Tingo Maria, Hwiuco (col. W. L. Brown and W. Sherbrooke).

Etymology
L nasifera, bearing a nose, referring to the nose-like protrusion of the median clypeal carina of the major in side view.