Pheidole chilensis

Nothing is known about the biology of chilensis.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type collection from Chile; I have further compared a 1961 series from Lima, Peru, with the Mayr types. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Chile.

Nomenclature

 *  chilensis. Pheidole chilensis Mayr, 1862: 748 (s.w.q.m.) CHILE. See also: Mayr, 1865: 95; Wilson, 2003: 179.

Description
From Wilson (2003): An unusual species, placed in the diligens group but also reminiscent of Pheidole teneriffana, an exotic native to Mediterranean area. P. chilensis may also prove to be an exotic.

Major: lacking the 4-lobed profile and broad, convex metanotum of teneriffana; dorsal surface of the head covered by carinulae except for frontal triangle and midclypeus; carinulae originating on the frontal lobes spread outward as they approach the occiput and then travel back to return to the anterior part of the head in parallel; antennal scrobes present; anterior midclypeal margin excavated; postpetiole from above conulate; all of promesonotum transversely carinulate.

Minor: occiput narrowed and with nuchal collar; postpetiole from above diamond-shaped.

Both castes have abundant, erect hairs on the antennal scapes.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.48, SL 0.94, EL 0.22, PW 0.62 (may be distorted by pin through pronotum). Paralectotype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.76, SL 0.94, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: body light reddish yellow, gaster light yellowish brown.

Minor: concolorous yellow.

Majors and minors collected in Lima in 1961 are medium reddish brown.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
CHILE: no further data. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Named after the country of origin. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Mayr, G. 1862. Myrmecologische Studien. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot.Ges. Wien 12: 649–776.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.