Pheidole atticola

The type colony was found in a nest of the large leafcutter ant Acromyrmex lundii; no further data were given by the collector.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Nomenclature

 *  atticola. Pheidole nana r. atticola Forel, 1912f: 236 (s.w.) ARGENTINA. Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 375.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole alacris, Pheidole dinophila, Pheidole hazenae, Pheidole lucaris, Pheidole nana, and Pheidole ulothrix, distinguished as follows.

Major: propodeal spine more than half as long as propodeal basal face, and curving slightly backward; pronotum covered by curving carinulae, some of which are semicircular; hypostoma 2-toothed; mesonotal convexity present although low and indistinct; postpetiole from above elliptical.

Minor: broken carinulae extend from frontal lobes to occiput; propodeal spine nearly half as long as propodeal basal face, and curing forward; occiput narrowed, with weakly convex border, and lacking nuchal collar.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.02, SL 0.56, EL 0.12, PW 0.48. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.54, SL 0.52, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.

Color Major: head and appendages light reddish yellow; rest of body light reddish brown. Minor: body light brownish yellow, appendages clear medium yellow.

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Argentina: La Plata, Buenos Aires.

Etymology
L. atticola, living with Atta (leafcutter ants).

Additional References
Forel, A. 1912g. Formicides néotropiques, Part III: 3me sousfamille Myrmicinae (suite). Genres Cremastogaster et Pheidole. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 19: 211–237.

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