Pheidole bucculenta

A nest was found in wet mountain forest near Salesopolis, Sao Paulo, 850 m, by William L. and Doris E. Brown. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  bucculenta. Pheidole guilelmimuelleri subsp. bucculenta Forel, 1908c: 379 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 670.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Similar to Pheidole antillana of the Lesser Antilles and the South American Pheidole avia, Pheidole guilelmimuelleri, Pheidole hetschkoi, Pheidole heyeri, Pheidole hortonae, Pheidole praeses and Pheidole rhytifera, as well as to Pheidole mamore in the serobifera group, but differing in the following combination of traits.

Major: very close to the lectotype major of guilelmimuelleri (q.v.), but the minor is very distinct, as follows: propodeal spines absent, replaced by right-angular junctions between the basal and posterior propodeal faces; humerus smoothly rounded in dorsal-oblique view; head and body almost completely smooth and shiny, with sculpturing on head comprising only short carinulae anterior to the level of the eyes.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Paralectotype major: HW 1.76, HL 1.76, SL 0.84, EL 0.10, PW 0.84. Lectotype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.76, SL 0.96, EL 0.12, PW 0.46.

COLOR Major: not recorded. Minor: concolorous clear yellow.



'''Figure. Lectotype, minor. BRAZIL: Alto da Serra, Sao Paulo. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
BRAZIL: Alto da Serra, Sao Paulo. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L bueeulenta, with full cheeks, allusion unknown. (Wilson 2003)