Pheidole rutilana

Collected from rainforest canopy. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole amata, Pheidole ambigua, Pheidole celaena, Pheidole fera, Pheidole germaini, Pheidole peruviana, Pheidole schwarzmaieri, Pheidole superba and Pheidole vomer, differing as follows.

Major: yellowish red; head in full-face view quadrate, almost as wide as long and with shallow occipital cleft; humeri in dorsaloblique view prominent, raised as large equilateral triangles; center of promesonotal profile in side view slightly raised as an obtuse angle; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa on each side of head; posterior fourth of dorsal head surface smooth.

Minor: occiput only slightly narrowed but possesses nuchal collar; humeri in dorsal-oblique view dentate; center of promesonotal profile in side view slightly raised as an obtuse angle; almost all of head as well as all of pronotum smooth and shiny.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.06, SL 0.62, EL 0.14, PW 0.60. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.56, SL 0.58, EL 0.10, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: concolorous yellowish red.

Minor: concolorous light reddish brown.



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

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Taperinha, Pará (Robert L. Jeanne).

Etymology
L rutilana, red, alluding to the color of the major.