Pheidole cataphracta

Nothing is known about the biology of cataphracta.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Recorded from only two collections in Valle Department, Colombia. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Worker
Minor

Images from AntWeb
Major

Nomenclature

 *  cataphracta. Pheidole cataphracta Wilson, 2003: 611, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A member of the punctatissima group easiliy recognized by the very long propodeal spines, which are about as long as the basal face of the propodeum anterior to them.

Major: dorsum of head completely carinulate except for frontal triangle and mid-clypeus; humerus subangulate; all of mesosoma and petiole foveolate and opaque.

Minor: almost all of head, as well as all of meso soma and petiole, foveolate and opaque; humerus with protuberant blunt oblique angles.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.96, SL 0.54, EL 0.14, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.50, SL 0.50, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: concolorous yellow except for head, which is dark yellow with a slight reddish tinge.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Mun. Buenaventura, 3.2 km above Rio Aguaclara on the old Cali road, Valle, col. William L. Brown.

Etymology
L cataphracta, fully armored.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.