Pheidole amazonica

At the type locality in Peru, Stefan Cover (unpublished collection notes) found amazonica to be apparently the most abundant of all Pheidole species, ranging from terra firme forest into seasonally flooded forest and nesting in rotten sticks or branches on the forest floor. Colonies contained several hundred workers and a single queen. No seed caches were found in any of the 21 nests dissected. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
A small, brown member of the flavens group most similar to Pheidole flavifrons but also in various traits to Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole nitidicollis and Pheidole tenerescens, differing from those species and other members of the flavens group by the combination of traits given in the description. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution
Known from the type locality and near Tena, Napo, Ecuador, 600 m. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Peru.

Habitat
Terra firme forest into seasonally flooded forest

Abundance
Common.

Description
A small, brown member of the flavens group most similar to Pheidole flavifrons but also in various traits to Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole nitidicollis and Pheidole tenerescens, differing from those species and other members of the flavens group by the following combination of traits.

Major
Dorsal half of the posterior head surface in profile flat; occipital margin in full-face view deeply and broadly concave; propodeal spines directed to the rear, not vertical to the basal propodeal face; an indistinct, circular brown spot present on vertex; a patch of rugoreticulum present laterad to each antennal fossa.

Body medium brown, with dark brown circular spot on vertex, and anterior one-fourth of head capsule dark yellowish brown; appendages dark yellowish brown.

Measurements (mm): Holotype major: HW 0.78, HL 0.78, SL 0.40, EL 0.08, PW 0.38.



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

Minor
Propodeal spines directed backward; humerus in dorsal-oblique view denticulate; occiput narrowed but lacking a nuchal collar; postpetiole from above bell-shaped.

Body mostly medium brown, with sides of pronotum, nodes of petiole and postpetiole, and first gastral tergite light brown; appendages also light brown.

Measurements (mm): Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.44, SL 0.38, EL 0.08, PW 0.26.

Type Locality Information
PERU: Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 200 m (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin).

Etymology
L amazonica, a reference to the geographical region of origin.