Pheidole sigillata

The type colony was found in lowland rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole aper, Pheidole bambusarum, Pheidole brevicona, Pheidole dyctiota, Pheidole laeviventris, Pheidole lutzi, Pheidole risii, Pheidole rugatula, Pheidole senilis, Pheidole trachyderma and Pheidole traini, differing as follows.

Major: vertex and sides of dorsal surface of head rugoreticulate; occipital lobes foveolate and opaque; frontal lobes carinulate; pronotal dorsum rugoreticulate; sides of pronotum rugulose; metanotum sparsely rugulose; propodeal spines equilaterally triangular.

Minor: occiput slightly constricted, but lacking nuchal collar; occiput, sides of head, and mid-clypeus in full-face view rugoreticulate; promesonotal dorsum rugoreticulate; propodeal spines equilaterally triangular.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.34, HL 1.38, SL 0.56, EL 0.12, PW 0.64. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.56, SL 0.54, EL 0.10, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: concolorous light brown.

Minor: body yellowish brown except for anterior fourth of head capsule, which is a lighter shade of brownish yellow; appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
Brazil. Caraguatatuba Reserva Florestal, São Paulo, 40–80 m (William L. Brown).

Etymology
L sigillata, adorned with little figures or marks, referring to variable sculpturing among different parts of body.