Pheidole fabricator

An inhabitant of rainforest. Males were present in a nest at Rancho Grande, Venezuela, during the time of collection, 23-27 June. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
In addition to the syntype from Rio de Janeiro, and series cited in the FIGURE caption from Sao Paulo, I have seen a series of fabricator from Rancho Grande, Aragua, Venezuela, 1100 m (W. L. and D. E. Brown). Kempf (1972b) reports the species in addition from the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil. I have also examined the same or possibly a closely related species from near Belem, Para, Brazil; and from the Guayabero River, Meta, Colombia. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A member of the tristis group similar to Pheidole balzani, Pheidole nigella and Pheidole tristis, and distinguished from these and other species in the group by the following traits.

Major: hypostoma 2-toothed; Head Width greater than Head Length; head with mandibles tapering anteriorly, and overall heartshaped; entire anterior dorsal half of head longitudinally carinulate, including frontal triangle and middle section of clypeus.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.12, SL 0.60, EL 0.14, PW 0.54. Minor (Caraguatatuba, Brazil): HW 0.52, HL 0.56, SL 0.52, EL 0.12, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: body reddish brown except for gaster, which is plain dark brown; appendages medium to dark brown.

Minor: head plain medium brown except for the genae, which are yellowish brown; mesosoma brownish yellow; gaster dark brown; appendages light brown.



'''Figure. Upper: syntype, major (Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Lower: minor, associated with a major that was compared with syntype major (Reserva Floresta, Caraguatatuba, 40-80 m, Sao Paulo, Brazil; W. L. Brown).Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
and - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L fabricator, maker, builder. (Wilson 2003)