Pheidole brandaoi

The type series was collected in lowland rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  brandaoi. Pheidole brandaoi Wilson, 2003: 150, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
A unique yellow member of the diligens group similar to Pheidole plebecula and Pheidole radoszkowskii, but distinguished from these and other species of the group as follows.

Major: with sparse pilosity on the mesosomal dorsum, including a pair of clavate hairs on the pronotum; pilosity on gastric tergites consisting of a carpet of short suberect pubescence in addition to longer erect to suberect hairs; no hairs on profile of head in full face except clypeus; mesosomal convexity very large, and subtriangular in side view; rugoreticula present between eyes and antennal fossae, and on anterior half of pronotum.

Minor: all of head, except frontal triangle, and most of mesosoma, foveolate and opaque; propodeal spines long and stout.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.96, HL 1.00, SL 0.70, EL 0.18, PW 0.52. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.66, SL 0.76, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: body and mandibles dark yellow, other appendages light yellow.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Mun. Buenaventura (Bajo Calima, Villa Clara), Valle, col. William L. Brown and Richard B. Root.

Etymology
Named in honor of the distinguished Brazilian myrmecologist C. Roberto F. Brandão.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.