Pheidole delicata

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 Bolivia.

Description
A medium-sized, mostly dark brown member of the flavens group whose major has a bicolored head and mesosoma; long, erect hairs on the promesonotum; propodeal spine reduced almost to a denticle; the petiolar node apex narrow; postpetiole seen from above oval; longitudinal carinulae covering almost all of the head, including the central part of the clypeus (but not the occiput, which is smooth); and mesosoma almost entirely smooth and shiny.

Similar in some but not all of these traits to Pheidole chalca, Pheidole lucaris and Pheidole ulothrix, differing in additional details of body form, sculpturing, pilosity and color, as variously described above and illustrated.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.00, HL 1.00, SL 0.56, EL 0.14, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.62, SL 0.52, EL 0.12, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major and minor: head anterior to the level of the eyes and sides of the prothorax and mesothorax brownish yellow; appendages light brown.



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

Type Locality Information
BOLIVIA: Aserrodero Moira, Santa Cruz, 14°34'S 61°12'W (Philip S. Ward).

Etymology
L delicata, delicate, dainty.