Pheidole gilva

This species is only known from type specimens. The type colony was found in mature terra firme rainforest, nesting in a 8-cm-wide dead branch 3 m from the ground. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Peru.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole angulifera, Pheidole erratilis, Pheidole schmalzi and Pheidole viriosa. Differing as follows.

Major: yellow; humeri in dorsal-oblique view are a “sharkfin” shape, pointing forward, and from above extend just beyond the margins of the pronotum below; propodeal spines more than half as long as the propodeal basal face preceding them; postpetiole from above diamond-shaped; rugoreticulum fills space between each eye and adjacent antennal fossa, and rest of dorsal head surface mostly carinulate; most of dorsal head surface and all of mesosoma foveolate.

Minor: humeri acute-angular, each bearing a long seta at the tip; occiput narrowed, with a nuchal collar; all of head, mesosoma, and waist foveolate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.12, HL 1.10, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.62, SL 0.62, EL 0.08, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium yellow. Minor: concolorous pale yellow.



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

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

Etymology
L gilva, pale yellow, alluding to color of minor.