Pheidole tambopatae

The type colony was found beneath the bark of a tree in a treefall clearing. The Colombian colony was collected from a spiny bamboo (Guadua) grove. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type locality; from near Cali, Colombia; and from the Utinga Tract, near Belém, Pará, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Peru.

Description
A medium-sized species, bicolorous in an odd pattern in both castes (see description below). Similar to Pheidole mincana, but the major is rugoreticulate mesad to the eye and has an oval postpetiolar node; and both castes have smaller, more vertically directed propodeal spine and somewhat shorter pilosity.

See also the less similar Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole caulicola, Pheidole chalca, Pheidole chalcoides, Pheidole meinerti, Pheidole meinertopsis, Pheidole schmalzi and Pheidole tragica.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.84, HL 0.92, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.42, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: occiput, dorsum of head capsule anterior to the eyes, side of the mesosoma, and all of the waist and appendages very light brown, rest of body medium to dark brown.

Minor: dorsum of head capsule anterior to the eyes, side of the mesosoma, all of the waist, and anterior two-thirds of the first gastral tergite light brown; all the rest of the body medium to dark brown.



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

Type Locality Information
PERU: Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata River, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin).

Etymology
L tambopatae, after the region of the type locality.