Pheidole araneoides

Found in lowland rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Amazonas and Pará states, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  araneoides. Pheidole araneoides Wilson, 2003: 265, figs. (s.w.) BRAZIL.

Description
A large, relatively thin and long-legged member of the “jujuyensis complex” of the larger fallax group, comprising Pheidole araneoides, Pheidole cuevasi, Pheidole durionei, Pheidole jujuyensis, Pheidole kugleri, Pheidole leonina, Pheidole leptina, Pheidole lucretii, Pheidole lupus, Pheidole paraensis, Pheidole punctithorax, Pheidole tijucana, Pheidole wallacei and Pheidole wolfringi. P. araneoides is distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: scape just reaches occipital angle; carinulae reach midpoint of cephalic capsule, and very small rugoreticular patches are present laterad to the circular carinulae of the antennal fossae; humerus smoothly rounded in dorsal-oblique view; propodeal spines reduced to denticles.

Minor: occiput drawn out into a neck with nuchal collar; body almost completely smooth and shiny; propodeal spines reduced to denticles.

Close to Pheidole chocoensis and Pheidole wallacei, also from Amazonian Brazil, differing in details of the characters cited above.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.70, HL 1.84, SL 1.44, EL 0.26, PW 0.90. Paratype minor: HW 0.64, HL 1.02, SL 1.62, EL 0.20, PW 0.50.

COLOR Major: mandibles and gaster dark reddish yellow to light reddish brown; rest of body and appendages medium reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.



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

Type Material
BRAZIL: S. Norte, Carajás, Pará, col. C. Roberto F. Brandão and W. W. Benson.

Etymology
L araneoides, resembling a spider.