Pheidole sagax

The type series was collected from a forested ravine. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Known from the type series and from Granada, Nicaragua, col. C. F. Baker.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 *  sagax. Pheidole sagax Wilson, 2003: 227, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
A member of the diligens group, close to Pheidole diligens, Pheidole radoszkowskii, and allied species, distinguished as follows.

Major: yellow; in full-face view, profiles of occipital lobes form almost perfect semicircles; in dorsal-oblique view, humerus is subangulate and pronotum weakly bilobous; petiolar node broad, its apex in side view broadly rounded; all of head dorsum and mesosoma foveolate; gaster entirely smooth and shiny; profile of head in full-face view bare of pilosity, except for clypeus.

Minor: yellow; occiput slightly narrowed, with nuchal collar; most of posterior dorsal surface of head and all of gaster smooth and shiny.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.14, SL 0.76, EL 0.16, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.62, SL 0.70, EL 0.14, PW 0.36.

COLOR Major and minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: 5 km north of Villavicencio, Meta, col. William L. and Doris E. Brown.

Etymology
L sagax, referring to the globose occipital lobes.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Mertl, A.L., K.T. Ryder Wilkie and J.F.A. Traniello. 2009. Impact of Flooding on the Species Richness, Density and Composition of Amazonian Litter-Nesting Ants. Biotropica 41(5):633-641
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press