Pheidole spilota

Nothing is known about the biology of spilota.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  spilota. Pheidole spilota Wilson, 2003: 233, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
A member of the diligens group similar in various characters to Pheidole coffeicola, Pheidole gagates, Pheidole hoelldobleri, Pheidole insipida, Pheidole peregrina, Pheidole venatrix and Pheidole zelata distinguished as follows.

Major: head yellowish brown with a light brown spot on vertex; antennal scape fails to reach occipital corner by about its own maximum width; mesonotal convexity angulate in side view; propodeal spine stout and a third as long as the basal propodeal face; no rugoreticulum on head; carinulae along frontal carinae spread strongly outward, and those next to dorsal midline reach the occiput; anterior median strip of first gastral tergite lightly shagreened; body densely covered with hairs as long as the eyes or longer.

Minor: yellow; occiput narrowed, with nuchal crest; posterior dorsal head surface sparsely foveolate; mesonotal convexity in side view subangulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.16, HL 1.18, SL 0.96, EL 0.20, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.76, SL 0.92, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: concolorous yellowish brown, with a slightly contrasting small light brown spot on vertex; also, posterior strips of gastral tergites light brown.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Las Salinas, near Restrepo, Meta, col. W. W. Lamar.

Etymology
Gr spilota, spotted, stained, with reference to spot on vertex.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Wilson E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, [ix] + 794 pp.