Pheidole stomachosa

Little is known about this ant’s biology.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from Jamaica, hence a weakly defined endemic of the island. It coexists there with the closely related Pheidole bilimeki. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Jamaica.

Nomenclature

 *  stomachosa. Pheidole floridana subsp. stomachosa Wheeler, W.M. 1917g: 459 (s.w.q.) JAMAICA. Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 511.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Nearly identical to Pheidole bilimeki and Pheidole floridana (q.v.). Differs from both in the mostly smooth and feebly shiny pronotum of the minor, and possibly the weakly bilobous outline of the pronotum in dorsal-oblique view; and from bilimeki in addition by the complete or near absence of shagreening from the first gastral tergite. There also may be small differences in the major in pilosity (as illustrated) and color (described below).

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.90, HL 0.96, SL 0.52, EL 0.12, PW 0.44. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.46, EL 0.10, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: body dark yellow, with slight reddish overtones (hence faintly “orange”), appendages clear yellow.

Minor: concolorous yellow.



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

Type Material
JAMAICA: Newton, 900 m, col. Charles T. Brues. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L stomachosa, angry, irritable. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Wheeler W. M. 1917. Jamaican ants collected by Prof. C. T. Brues. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 61: 457-471.
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press