Pheidole gibba

Nothing is known about the biology of gibba.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina states, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  gibba. Pheidole gibba Mayr, 1887: 590 (s.), 604 (w.) BRAZIL. Senior synonym of lopesi: Kempf, 1972b: 455. See also: Wilson, 2003: 695.
 * lopesi. Pheidole gibba var. lopesi Borgmeier, 1937b: 233 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of gibba: Kempf, 1972b: 455.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Very distinctive within Pheidole as a whole.

Major: large; slender; humeri very prominent, subangulate, each forming a large equilateral triangle in dorsal-oblique view; pronotum with transversely rugulose dorsum and vertically carinulate sides; all of dorsal surface of head carinulate except occiput and frontal triangle, which are smooth; carinulae that originate from posterior half of sides of frontal lobes curve laterally and then posteriorly; postpetiole diamond-shaped from above.

Minor: humeri as in major (q.v.); all of mesosomal dorsum foveolate; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.96, HL 2.10, SL 1.22, EL 0.24, PW 0.98. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.84, HL 1.00, SL 1.12, EL 0.18, PW 0.58.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium reddish brown.

Minor: body light reddish brown, appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
BRAZIL: Santa Catarina. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L gibba, humpbacked, referring to the extended humeri. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Kempf W. W. 1972. A study of some Neotropical ants of genus Pheidole Westwood. I. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 15: 449-464.
 * Kempf W. W. 1978. A preliminary zoogeographical analysis of a regional ant fauna in Latin America. 114. Studia Entomologica 20: 43-62.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Rosa da Silva R. 1999. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) do oeste de Santa Catarina: historico das coletas e lista atualizada das especies do Estado de Santa Catarina. Biotemas 12(2): 75-100.