Pheidole gaigei

Nothing is known about the biology of gaigei.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  gaigei. Pheidole gaigei Forel, 1914c: 616 (s.w.) COLOMBIA. See also: Wilson, 2003: 692.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the tristis group, similar to Pheidole balzani, Pheidole godmani, Pheidole grandinodus, Pheidole huilana, Pheidole obrima, and, less so, to species listed with them, distinguished as follows.

Major: postpetiole from above bell-shaped, 2X broader than petiole; postpetiole with prominent ventral, forward-projecting subangular process; anterior third of pronotal dorsum and all of mesopleuron carinulate; carinulae on dorsal surface of head reach midway between eye and occipital border.

Minor: occiput very broad, lacking nuchal collar; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; margins all around of pronotal dorsum, as well as lower half of mesopleuron, carinulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.28, HL 1.38, SL 0.72, EL 0.08, PW 0.62. Syntype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.72, SL 0.66, EL 0.12, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: concolorous light reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Mt. San Lorenzo, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, 1700 m. and  - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
Eponymous. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Wilson E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, [ix] + 794 pp.