Pheidole laevinota

From Wilson (2003): The Horco Molle series was collected in subtropical evergreen forest, and includes a male (19–22 January).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Recorded by Kempf (1972a) from São Paulo and Jujuy, northern Argentina. I have verified another Argentine record, from near Horco Molle, Tucumán, 750–900 m (W. L. Brown).

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  laevinota. Pheidole rufipilis var. laevinota Forel, 1908c: 371 (w.) BRAZIL. Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 200.

Description
From Wilson (2003): Similar to Pheidole coffeicola, Pheidole laevifrons, Pheidole pubiventris, Pheidole rufipilis and Pheidole variegata (= Pheidole pubiventris), but especially to Pheidole rufipilis, a partially sympatric species from which it differs as follows.

Major: rugoreticulum present posterior-laterad to antennal fossa; front and lateral margins of pronotum carinulate, but pronotal center smooth and shiny; upper side of propodeum carinulate; postpetiolar node from above oval; humerus in dorsal-oblique view subangulate.

Minor: humerus in dorsal-oblique view angulate; pronotal dorsum smooth.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.16, SL 0.86, EL 0.20, PW 0.58. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.64, SL 0.74, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: body light brown, appendages dark yellow.

Minor: concolorous light brown.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: São Paulo, S. P. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L laevinota, smooth notum, evidently in contrast to that of Pheidole rufipilis. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Forel, A. 1908h. Ameisen aus São Paulo (Brasilien), Paraguay etc. gesammelt von Prof. Herm. v. Ihering, Dr. Lutz, Dr. Fiebrig, etc. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 58: 340–418.

Kempf, W. W. 1972b. Catálogo abreviado das formigas da região Neotropical. Stud. Entomol. 15: 3–344.

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