Pheidole quercicola

This species is only known from type specimens. The type colony was collected at a relatively high elevation in humid pine-oak forest. (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

 *  quercicola. Pheidole quercicola Wilson, 2003: 492, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole bilimeki, Pheidole chalca, Pheidole daphne, Pheidole floridana, Pheidole furtiva, Pheidole nebulosa, Pheidole specularis and Pheidole stomachosa, differing as follows.

Major: yellow; profile of promesonotal dorsum flat in side view, descending to metanotum in steep posterior face; humerus discrete and lobose in dorsal-oblique view; occiput broad and deeply concave; postpetiole conate from above; posterior half of head smooth and shiny; and anterior half of dorsal surface of head carinulate; lower margin of pronotum carinulate; middle of mesopleuron with band of broken rugulae.

Minor: occiput broad, strongly concave; promesonotal profile semicircular; propodeal spine equilaterally triangular; postpetiolar node strongly developed in side view; almost all of body smooth and shiny.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.06, HL 1.12, SL 0.50, EL 0.14, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.58, SL 0.48, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium yellow.

Minor: concolorous light yellow.



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

Type Material
MEXICO: vicinity of Omilteme, Guerrero, 2300–2500 m, col. Cornell University Field Party, 1965.

Etymology
L quercicola, oak-dwelling, allusion to habitat of type colony.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Vasquez-Bolanos M. 2011. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexico. Dugesiana 18(1): 95-133.
 * 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