Pheidole rochai

Nothing is known about the biology of P. rochai.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known with certainty only from the Ceará type series. I have not seen the series described by Santschi (1923d: 46) as “var. deflexa” from Paraguay. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  rochai. Pheidole lemur r. rochai Forel, 1912f: 226 (s.w.) BRAZIL. [Pheidole rochai Forel, 1908e: 65. Nomen nudum.] Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 225.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A small yellow member of the diligens group whose major has a moderately prominent mesonotal convexity as part of a bilobous promesonotal outline seen in dorsal-oblique view; short, equilaterally triangular propodeal spine; overall mostly smooth and shiny body with sculpturing on the head confined to the eye level and anterior to it, and composed exclusively of longitudinal carinulae; and abundant medium-length, erect pilosity.

Close to Pheidole blumenauensis, Pheidole longiscapa, Pheidole perryorum, Pheidole tanyscapa and Pheidole vafra, but differing variously in head shape, eye size, sculpturing, and color. See also the less similar Pheidole lemur, Pheidole pubiventris, Pheidole seeldrayersi and Pheidole variegata (= Pheidole pubiventris), as illustrated.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.92, HL 0.96, SL 0.76, EL 0.14, PW 0.56. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.60, SL 0.74, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major and minor: concolorous yellow.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Ceará. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Eponymous. (Wilson 2003)

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

Santschi, F. 1923d. Pheidole et quelques autres fourmis néotropiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 63: 45–69.

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