Pheidole bison

The type series was collected by Philip S. Ward from a termite nest in savanna. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Bolivia.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A medium-sized member of the tristis group similar to Pheidole bellatrix, Pheidole napoensis and Pheidole pullula, differing as follows.

Major: promesonotum a single massive piece, its dorsal border forming a single convexity that drops vertically at the rear to the metanotum; head entirely covered with longitudinal carinulae except for frontal triangle and central section of clypeus; space between eye and antennal fossa rugoreticulate; petiolar node in side view tapered apically to a blunt point; postpetiolar node from above trapezoidal.

Minor: almost all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque; irregular broken rugulae present on posterior dorsal head surface; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; occiput broad, weakly concave.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.30, SL 0.76, EL 0.12, PW 0.60. Paratype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.64, SL 0.64, EL 0.08, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: head dark reddish brown, rest of body medium reddish brown, appendages light reddish brown.

Minor: concolorous brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
BOLIVIA: La Games, Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz, 14°48'S 60°23'W, 700 m, col. Philip S. Ward.

Etymology
L Gr bison, the wisent (European bison), alluding to the massive humped back of the major.

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