Pheidole biolleyi

According to Longino (1997), colonies of biolleyi inhabit cloud forests, where they nest in the soil. He has observed workers foraging both on the ground and in low vegetation. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Pheidole biolleyi occurs in the upland Central Valley of Costa Rica around Cartago and Monteverde. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
From Wilson (2003): This species appears to be intermediate between the biconstricta and diligens groups, and is therefore placed in the latter only tentatively. It is distinguished in the major by variable 2- or 4-dentate hypostoma (as in biconstricta), smaller size, absence of a rugoreticulum on the head, smooth first gastral tergite, and abundant, subappressed hairs on the first gastral tergite.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.22, SL 0.94, EL 0.16, PW 0.60. Syntype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.78, SL 1.00, EL 0.16, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: concolorous light orange.

Minor: concolorous light brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
and  - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: La Palma, 1600 m. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Named after the collector, Paul Biolley. (Wilson 2003)