Pheidole sarpedon

Nothing is known about the biology of sarpedon.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador.

Castes
Only known from the major caste.

Nomenclature

 *  sarpedon. Pheidole sarpedon Wilson, 2003: 749, figs. (s.) ECUADOR.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various ways to Pheidole balzani, Pheidole brunnescens, Pheidole exarata, Pheidole excubitor, Pheidole fabricator, Pheidole germaini, Pheidole hispaniolae, Pheidole nigella, Pheidole prattorum, Pheidole sabina, Pheidole tristis, Pheidole tristops and Pheidole unicornis, differing as follows.

Major: reddish yellow; occipital cleft deep and rounded; postpetiolar venter with prominent forward-directed lobe; humerus in dorsaloblique view elevated prominently as a lobe; propodeal spines vertical to propodeal basal face; carinulae cover anterior half of dorsal head surface, and those mesad to eye bend inward; postpetiolar node from above conulate.

Minor: unknown.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.60, SL 0.80, EL 0.14, PW 0.68.

COLOR Major: body medium to dark reddish yellow, mandibles and antennal scapes reddish brown, legs light reddish yellow.



'''Figure. Holotype, major. (Minor unknown.) Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
ECUADOR: Limoncocha, Napo, 250 m, col. Stewart B. and Jarmila Kukalová-Peck.

Etymology
Gr Sarpedon, mythical commander of Priam’s Lycian allies.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Mertl, A.L. and J.F.A. Traniello. 2009. Behavioral evolution in the major worker subcaste of twig-nesting Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): does morphological specialization influence task plasticity? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 63:1141-1426