Pheidole bellatrix

Winged queens were collected from the type nest sometime during 9–13 January. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
In addition to the type locality in Huila, bellatrix has been collected in Cundinamarca (1100 m), Magdalena (elevation unknown), and Meta (1000 m). (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  bellatrix. Pheidole bellatrix Wilson, 2003: 663, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS An unusually large member of the tristis group, similar to Pheidole napoensis of Ecuador and more distantly so to Pheidole pepo, Pheidole rotundiceps, Pheidole sphaerica and Pheidole subsphaerica, which are species variously from Colombia and Ecuador, and distinguished by the following set of traits.

Major: promesonotum in side view forms a very large hump towering over the propodeum; from above the humeri are very broad, completely covering the rest of the pronotum below; from above the anterior margin of the postpetiolar node forms a perfect semicircle, with the posterior border a straight line forming its base; antennal scrobes absent; entire body covered by dense pilosity.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 2.00, HL 2.06, SL 0.92, EL 0.22, PW 1.30. Paratype minor: HW 0.78, HL 0.82, SL 0.76, EL 0.14, PW 0.48.

COLOR Major: body light reddish brown, appendages brownish yellow.

Minor: concolorous light brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Finca Merenberg, 12 km west of Belén, Huila, 2200 m, col. C. Kugler and J. Hahn.

Etymology
L bellatrix, female warrior.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Wilson E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, [ix] + 794 pp.