Pheidole camilla

This species is only known from type specimens. Nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Ecuador.

Description
A medium-sized, brown member of the flavens group, whose major is recognizable by a variable bulge in the middle of the dorsal surface of the head seen in side view, anterior to which the dorsal surface is variously rugulose and carinulate, and posterior to which the surface is covered by broken rugulae in the center and rugoreticulum on the side. In addition, the major is notable for its well-developed mesonotal convexity and large propodeal spines. At 50–60X some of the mesosomal and gastral hairs appear to have flattened apices. The minor has large spines and the entire body surface is sculptured, foveolate and opaque, except for the gaster, which is smooth and shiny.

Similar in some features to Pheidole alticola, Pheidole euryscopa, Pheidole hazenae, Pheidole heterothrix, Pheidole rectiluma, Pheidole rectisentis, Pheidole rectispina and Pheidole rectitrudis, but notably different in others as illustrated.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.98, SL 0.58, EL 0.14, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.50, SL 0.52, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: body medium brown, tarsi yellow, other appendages light brown.

Minor: body blackish brown, mandibles and scapes medium brown, other appendages light brown.



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

Type Locality Information
ECUADOR: 3 km east of Tandapi, Pichincha, col. Stewart B. and Jarmila Kukalová-Peck.

Etymology
L Camilla, a legendary Volscian huntress and warrior.

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