Pheidole geminata

The type series is from mossy montane forest, and the 520 m Santo Domingo de las Colorados colony from submontane rainforest. A winged queen from the latter locality was collected on 4 June. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Known from the type locality and two localities near Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Pichincha, col. S. and J. Peck.

This taxon was described from Ecuador.

Nomenclature

 *  geminata. Pheidole geminata Wilson, 2003: 426, figs. (s.w.) ECUADOR.

Description
Similar to Pheidole micridris but distinguished from it and other Pheidole species as follows.

Major: head in full-face view quadrate, with Head Width equaling Head Length; eyes set well forward on head; pilosity sparse, especially so on mesosomal dorsum, where it comprises widely and evenly spaced pairs of setae; mesonotal convexity low but well developed in side view; propodeal spines as long as half the propodeal basal face and directed backward; postpetiole oval from above; carinulae limited to eye level on head and anterior to it; all of head, mesosoma, and petiole foveolate.

Minor: eye set far forward on head; posterior half of ventral head profile weakly concave; pilosity sparse, and on mesosomal dorsum comprising widely and evenly spaced pairs of setae; all of head, mesosoma, and petiole foveolate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.92, HL 0.92, SL 0.58, EL 0.12, PW 0.42. Paratype minor (Tinlandia, Ecuador): HW 0.40, HL 0.44, SL 0.42, EL 0.06, PW 0.24.

COLOR Major: body dark brown, mandibles medium brown, other appendages brownish yellow. Minor: body yellowish brown, appendages dark yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
Holotype, major: 20–30 km east-northeast of Alluriquin on Chiriboga Road, Pichincha, Ecuador, 1400–1800 m. Paratype, minor: Tinlandia, 16 km southeast of Santo Domingo de Los Colorados, Pichincha, Ecuador, 520 m.

Etymology
L geminata, pair, twinned, referring to the paired mesosomal setae.

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