Pheidole triplex

The type colony was found in mature montane rainforest, nesting beneath a rock in clay soil. A seed cache was present. (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: Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago.

Nomenclature

 *  triplex. Pheidole triplex Wilson, 2003: 767 (s.w.) TRINIDAD.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Major: virtually identical with Pheidole subarmata major except for its much smaller size (HW about 0.8 mm versus more than 0.9 mm in subarmata) and strikingly different color (see below). Stefan Cover, who has examined this species and subarmata in detail, reports that the head of the triplex major is also slightly narrower.

Minor: virtually identical with Pheidole subarmata minor except for its strikingly different color (see below). Another possible difference is habitat: the triplex types were collected in mature mountain rainforest, while subarmata prefers open, even disturbed habitats.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.80, HL 1.06, SL 0.44, EL 0.12, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.46, SL 0.42, EL 0.09, PW 0.28.

COLOR Major: strongly tricolorous, with head and mandibles uniformly medium brown; mesosoma, waist, and appendages yellow; and gaster light brown.

Minor: concolorous clear light yellow.

Type Material
TRINIDAD: Aripo Ridge, Arima Valley, 550-650 m, col. Stefan Cover and Mark W. Moffett.

Etymology
L triplex, three parts, referring to the tricolorous condition of the major.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Mertl A. L., J. F. A. Traniello, K. Ryder Wilkie, and R. Constantino. 2012. Associations of two ecologically significant social insect taxa in the litter of an amazonian rainforest: is there a relationship between ant and termite species richness? Psyche doi:10.1155/2012/312054