Pheidole dione

Nothing is known about the biology of dione.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  dione. Pheidole rufipilis var. dione Forel, 1913l: 225 (s.w.) ARGENTINA. Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 286.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A member of the fallax group, most similar to Pheidole bergi, Pheidole cordiceps, Pheidole dentata, Pheidole eidmanni and Pheidole nitidula, distinguished as follows.

Major: antennal scapes reaching within 2X their maximum width to occipital corners; rugoreticulum on each side of head forming a band from eye laterally to antennal fossa and forward slightly anterior to eye; carinulae on frontal lobes limited to their lateral margins and extending posteriorly to midway between eye and occipital margin; propodeal spines small, equilaterally triangular; pronotal profile in dorsal-oblique view a single convexity, and mesonotal profile subangular; postpetiole from above laterally subangulate; pronotum smooth; pilosity dense and long, many hairs longer than Eye Length.

Minor: pilosity long, some hairs 2X Eye Length; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; mesonotal convexity in dorsal-oblique view subangulate; occiput in frontal view feebly convex.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.34, SL 0.94, EL 0.18, PW 0.62. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: body and appendages plain light brown.

Minor: body plain light brown, appendages yellowish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
ARGENTINA: Jujuy. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
Gr dione, a matronymic name for Aphrodite. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Calcaterra L. A., F. Cuezzo, S. M. Cabrera, and J. A. Briano. 2010. Ground ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ibera nature reserve, the largest wetland of Argentina. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 103(1): 71-83.