Pheidole aurea

Nothing is known about the biology of aurea.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from the United States.

Description
A member of the “bicarinata subgroup” of the larger pilifera group, which subgroup comprises Pheidole agricola, Pheidole aurea, Pheidole bajaensis, Pheidole barbata, Pheidole bicarinata, Pheidole centeotl, Pheidole cerebrosior, Pheidole defecta, Pheidole gilvescens, Pheidole macclendoni, Pheidole macrops, Pheidole marcidula, Pheidole paiute, Pheidole pinealis, Pheidole psammophila, Pheidole xerophila, Pheidole yaqui and Pheidole yucatana; and is characterized by the large to very large forward-set eyes of both castes; and in the major, the occipital lobes lacking any sculpturing (except in aurea); the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally angulate (rarely cornulate, never spinose). P. aurea in particular is distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: yellow; occiput with narrow band of transverse rugulae, which do not extend all the way across the occipital lobes; propodeal spines blunt, equilaterally triangular; humerus subangulate in dorsal-oblique view; postpetiolar node elliptical when seen from above.

Minor: clavate hairs present on promesonotal dorsum.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.84, HL 0.92, SL 0.50, EL 0.20, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.48, SL 0.46, EL 0.12, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: medium yellow, head slightly darker in shade than rest of body.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
TEXAS: 5 km northwest of Eldorado, Schleicher Co. (O. F. Francke).

Etymology
L aurea, gold, referring to the yellow color of both worker castes, and the type locality (El Dorado).