Pheidole ectatommoides

Longino (1997) discovered workers foraging at night on the ground and on a fallen branch in a forest. At several localities across the range, caches of seeds have been found in the nests. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Recorded from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. J. T. Longino (1997) found the species in Costa Rica on the Atlantic slope. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  ectatommoides. Pheidole ectatommoides Wilson, 2003: 683, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A highly distinctive species with some resemblance to Pheidole arietans, Pheidole glyphoderma and Pheidole triumbonata, but instantly recognizable by the unique pattern of sculpturing, especially on the minor worker, as illustrated.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.98, HL 2.12, SL 0.90, EL 0.24, PW 0.86. Paratype minor: HW 0.74, HL 0.80, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.50. ectatommoides COLOR Major: head, meso soma, and waist light reddish brown; appendages and gaster reddish yellow.

Minor: head and meso soma reddish yellow; waist, gaster, and appendages plain medium yellow.



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

Type Material
COSTA RICA: Rio Toro Amarillo, near Guapiles, col. William L. Brown.

Etymology
L ectatommoides, referring to the distinctive sculpturing of the minor especially, reminiscent of ectatommoid ponerine ants.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.