Pheidole arcifera

Nothing is known about the biology of arcifera.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  arcifera. Pheidole arcifera Santschi, 1925d: 226 (s.w.) BRAZIL. See also: Kempf, 1964e: 61; Wilson, 2003: 266.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A large member of the fallax group, uniquely defined as follows.

Major: entire head carinulate, with carinulae originating on the frontal lobes turning laterad as they approach the occiput, then forward to return all the way to the anterior edge of the head capsule; promesonotum mostly carinulate, with carinulae on the anterior half of the pronotum curving down to run along the ventral border of the pronotum; in dorsal-oblique view, pronotal profile bilobate; in side view, apex of petiolar node tapered to a point; postpetiolar node diamond-shaped and foveolate.

Minor: occiput tapered to a neck, with a broad nuchal collar; propodeal spines thin, needle-like.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 2.00, HL 2.24, SL 1.20, EL 0.32, PW 1.00. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.96, SL 1.26, EL 0.20, PW 0.50.

COLOR Major and minor: rich medium reddish brown, appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
BRAZIL: Pirapora, Minas Gerais. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L arcifera, bow-carrier, referring to the unique cephalic carinulae. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Cividanes F. J., J. C. Barbosa, I. C. F. Martins, F. Pattaro, M. A. Nunes, R. Souza Santos. 2009. Diversity and spatial distribution of ground arthropods in agroecosystems. Bragantia, Campinas, 68(4): 991-1002.
 * Kempf W. W. 1964e. Miscellaneous studies on Neotropical ants. III. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 7: 45-71.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Santschi F. 1925. Nouveaux Formicides brésiliens et autres. Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 65: 221-247.