Pheidole styrax

This species is only known from type specimens. Nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Venezuela.

Description
A medium-large, brown member of the flavens group whose major is distinguished by the unusual bidentate anterior margin of the clypeus; heart-shaped frontal profile of the head; completely carinulate clypeus; shallow antennal fossa; high, subangulate pronotal humerus in dorsal-oblique view; angulate mesonotal convexity and deep, semicircular metanotal groove; and narrow petiolar node in side view. Similar to Pheidole bidens in possession of a bidentate clypeus and general habitus but differing in presence of an antennal scrobe and many other details of body form, sculpturing, pilosity, and color, as shown and described (q.v.).

See also the less similar Pheidole moffetti, Pheidole nasutoides and Pheidole tennantae.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.12, SL 0.58, EL 0.14, PW 0.52. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.62, SL 0.54, EL 0.12, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: body and mandibles medium brown, other appendages yellowish brown.

Minor: body light brown, appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
VENEZUELA: Rio Negro Táchira, 550 m (John Lattke).

Etymology
Gr styrax, point at the butt end of a spear, referring to narrow petiolar node of the major.