Pheidole perkinsi

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 Dominica.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole albipes, Pheidole ceibana, Pheidole lemnisca, Pheidole peltastes, Pheidole renae, Pheidole tayrona and Pheidole xyston, differing as follows. Major: blackish brown body contrasts with pale yellow legs; shallow antennal scrobe present; on dorsal head surface, carinulae and rugulae covering anterior three-fourths of head give way to band of irregular rugoreticulum just in advance of occiput, which gives way in turn to the smooth occiput; eye narrow, placed far forward on head; humeri and metanotum rugoreticulate; postpetiole elliptical.

Minor: eye very large, set forward on the head so that it is separated from the anterior head margin by only about a Head Length; humerus denticulate; propodeal spine equilaterally triangular.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.76, HL 0.80, SL 0.48, EL 0.08, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.40, HL 0.44, SL 0.42, EL 0.08, PW 0.22.

COLOR Major: body blackish brown except for genae, which are contrasting reddish yellow; mandibles reddish brown; other appendages pale yellow.

Minor: body blackish brown, appendages pale yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
DOMINICA (WEST INDIES): trail 0.2 km northeast of Ponte Casse, northwest slope of Morne Trois Pitons, St. Paul’s Parish, 790 m (Philip D. Perkins).

Etymology
Named after the collector and entomologist Philip D. Perkins.