Pheidole azteca

Nothing is known about the biology of azteca.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  azteca. Pheidole azteca Wilson, 2003: 558, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A member of the pilifera group, close to Pheidole hamtoni of Mexico but distinguished from it and other species of the group by the following combination of traits. Both major and minor medium reddish yellow.

Major: head capsule in full-face view quadrate, as broad as long; hypostoma with only 2 teeth; propodeal spine reduced to a thick denticle; postpetiolar node from above diamond-shaped, with right-angular lateral margins; pilosity erect and very dense; a patch of rugoreticulum present between each eye and the nearest antennal fossa.

Minor: propodeal spines reduced to rudimentary broad denticles, not even apparent in side view; occiput broad, lacking nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.34, HL 1.34, SL 1.14, EL 0.22, PW 0.72. Paratype minor: HW 0.72, HL 0.82, SL 1.02, EL 0.20, PW 0.46.

COLOR Major and minor: body medium yellow with very slight reddish tinge, except for gaster, which is plain pale yellow.



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

Type Material
MEXICO: San Jeronimo, Mexico City, col. W. Lopez-Forment.

Etymology
Named after the ancient Amerindian empire that embraced the type locality.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press