Pheidole rudigenis

The Itaúnas series was collected by R. Paiva inside a nest of a giant ponerine ant, ‘’Dinoponera’’ sp.; the relationship, if any, is unknown. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
In addition to the types, I have seen a series from Itaúnas, Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil. The holotype of synonymous Pheidole bucolica is from Monte Alegre, Pará, in Amazonian Brazil, an anomalous record for the species. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  rudigenis. Pheidole flavens subsp. rudigenis Emery, 1906c: 155 (s.) ARGENTINA. Raised to species and senior synonym of bucolica: Wilson, 2003: 498.
 * bucolica. Pheidole bucolica Santschi, 1929d: 289, figs. 19-21 (s.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of rudigenis: Wilson, 2003: 498.

Description
DIAGNOSIS From Wilson (2003): Similar to Pheidole exigua, Pheidole glomericeps, Pheidole moffetti, Pheidole nana and Pheidole styrax, differing as follows.

Major: shallow antennal scrobes present; occipital lobes and humeri rugoreticulate; dorsal surfaces of head and pronotum otherwise carinulate; dorsal promesonotal profile elevated, strongly convex, mesonotal convexity subangulate; propodeal spines half the length of the propodeal dorsal face; postpetiolar node from above diamond-shaped.

Minor: space between eye and antennal fossa, as well as anterior third of promesonotal dorsum, rugoreticulate; entire head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque; propodeal spines half as long as propodeal basal face; occiput broad and convex. The holotype of Pheidole bucolica, placed in provisional synonymy, differs from the rudigenis lectotype in its oval postpetiole, as depicted, and more strongly rugulose genae; given its distant origin, in Pará, it may be a distinct species.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.02, SL 0.56, EL 0.14, PW 0.50. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.60, SL 0.52, EL 0.08, PW 0.36.

COLOR Major: head, mesosoma, and waist light reddish brown; gaster and antennae medium brownish yellow; legs light brownish yellow.

Minor: head and mesosoma medium yellowish brown; waist, gaster, and appendages light yellowish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: lectotype, major (second, lower outline of postpetiole dorsum is of synonymous bucolica holotype). Lower: paralectotype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
ARGENTINA: San Pedro, Misiones. (Wilson 2003) - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L rudigenis, rough cheek, referring to sculpturing of head. (Wilson 2003)