Pheidole gangamon

The nest of the type colony was in black clayey soil in the middle of a path through degraded lowland  rainforest. The single entrance hole was surrounded by a narrow ring of excavated earth. Major workers were scarce. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  gangamon. Pheidole gangamon Wilson, 2003: 626, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Close to Pheidole arctos, but distinguishable from it (and other members of the scrobifera group) by the pattern of sculpturing and details of body form in the major, and in the unusually long, needle-like propodeal spines and piligerous cornicles of the humeri, also as shown.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.24, HL 1.54, SL 0.58, EL 0.16, PW 0.72. Paratype minor: HW 0.58, HL 0.58, SL 0.58, EL 0.12, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: body and appendages medium reddish brown; gaster dark brown.

Minor: light brown.



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

Type Material
MEXICO: Pueblo Nuevo, near Tetzonapa, col. E. O. Wilson.

Etymology
Gr gangamon, a small, round net, referring to the occipital rugoreticulum of the major.