Pheidole tenerescens

This species is only known from the type specimen, collected by sweeping vegetation. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Trinidad and Tobago.

Castes
Only known from the holotype major.

Nomenclature

 *  tenerescens. Pheidole tenerescens Wheeler, W.M. 1922c: 7 (s.) TRINIDAD. See also: Wilson, 2003: 520.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS As represented by the major, a small, yellow member of the flavens group with prominent, rounded humerus that rises well above the mesonotum in dorsal-oblique view; a nearly perfectly semicircular outline of promesonotum in side view; a deep, circular metanotal groove with vertical anterior propodeal face in dorsal-oblique view; short pilosity; and mostly smooth, shiny body. Similar to nitidicollis, but lacking a mesonotal convexity in side view, with shorter cephalic carinulae, smaller propodeal spiracle and spine, and yellow as opposed to medium brown gaster.

See also the less similar Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole flavifrons, Pheidole minutula, and other species listed as close to arhuaca (q.v.).

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.74, HL 0.80, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: concolorous yellow.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
From Wilson (2003): TRINIDAD: Port of Spain, col. Roland Thaxter.

Etymology
Presumably from L tener, soft, alluding to the relatively feeble sculpture. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Wheeler, W. M. 1922e. The ants of Trinidad. Am. Mus. Novit. 45:1–16.

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