Pheidole exquisita

The holotype colony was collected in litter of rainforest in a ravine. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
From Wilson (2003): Similar in various traits to Pheidole nitella, Pheidole christopherseni, Pheidole nigricula, Pheidole olsoni, Pheidole protensa, Pheidole pygmaea and Pheidole sagittaria but differing as follows.

Major: yellow; head elongate as shown; eyes set far forward, so that their distance from anterior margin of head is only an Eye Length; propodeal spines absent, replaced by obtuse angle (side view) or rounded juncture (dorsal-oblique view); carinulae extend only slightly behind eye level of head, including frontal lobes, and rest of body entirely smooth and shiny.

Minor: eye large, tapered anteriorly, and set far forward on head; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; carinulae on head extend only back to anterior margin of eyes, and all the rest of head and body smooth and shiny; occiput broad, its margin flat. Differs from the closely similar nigella in size, head shape, cephalic sculpture, eye shape, and minor scape length.

COLOR Major and minor: concolorous medium yellow.

Distribution
Known from the type locality (3 km east of Tandapi, Ecuador, at 1300 m), and nearby, 15 km east of Tandapi at 2300 m. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Ecuador.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole nitella, Pheidole christopherseni, Pheidole nigricula, Pheidole olsoni, Pheidole protensa, Pheidole pygmaea and Pheidole sagittaria but differing as follows.

Major: yellow; head elongate as shown; eyes set far forward, so that their distance from anterior margin of head is only an Eye Length; propodeal spines absent, replaced by obtuse angle (side view) or rounded juncture (dorsal-oblique view); carinulae extend only slightly behind eye level of head, including frontal lobes, and rest of body entirely smooth and shiny.

Minor: eye large, tapered anteriorly, and set far forward on head; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; carinulae on head extend only back to anterior margin of eyes, and all the rest of head and body smooth and shiny; occiput broad, its margin flat. Differs from the closely similar nigella in size, head shape, cephalic sculpture, eye shape, and minor scape length.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.76, HL 1.08, SL 0.46, EL 0.12, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.52, SL 0.48, EL 0.10, PW 0.28.

COLOR Major and minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
ECUADOR: 3 km east of Tandapi, Pichincha, 1300 m (S. and J. Peck).

Etymology
L exquisita, excellent, choice, fine.