Pheidole defecta

Nothing is known about the biology of defecta.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Guatemala.

Castes
This species is only known from majors.

Nomenclature

 *  defecta. Pheidole defecta Santschi, 1923d: 54 (s.) GUATEMALA. See also: Hölldobler & Wilson, 1992: 16; Wilson, 2003: 575.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A unique but problematic species known only from the holotype major, tentatively placed in the pilifera group because of the 2-toothed hypostoma but equally well placed in the flavens group because of the overall habitus; the discovery of the minor may help settle the matter. Close in habitus to Pheidole nasutoides (which is placed in the flavens group), but differing in promesonotal shape, smaller size of the propodeal spine and spiracle, mostly smooth and shiny body, much sparser pilosity, and different color.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.10, HL 1.10, SL 0.64, EL 0.16, PW 0.56.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium yellow.



'''Figure. Unique holotype, major. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
From Wilson (2003): GUATEMALA (no further locality).

Etymology
L defecta, fault, lack (significance unknown). (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Santschi, F. 1923d. Pheidole et quelques autres fourmis néotropiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 63: 45–69.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.