Pheidole colpigaleata

This species inhabits forest from lowland to hilly areas (ca. 1200 m alt.), and nests in rotting twigs and small wood fragments. Majors serve as repletes (e.g., Eg02-VN-038, -039). Colony Eg01-VN-222 (the type series) stored many small seeds inside the nest. (Eguchi 2008)

Identification
This species is characterized among Indo-Chinese species by the following characteristics: in the minor dorsal and lateral faces of head and mesosoma punctured; in the major hypostoma in the middle with a conspicuous median and a pair of conspicuous submedian processes; in the major frontal carina well developed horizontally; in the major and minor promesonotal dome lacking a conspicuous prominence/mound on its posterior slope. The major of P. colpigaleata is very similar to that of Pheidole nodgii Forel and its relatives, e.g., Pheidole tjibodana Forel, Pheidole magrettii Emery and Pheidole retivertex Eguchi, but is well distinguished from the latter three which have hypostoma in the middle with a well-developed median process only. The major of P. colpigaleata is also similar to those of Pheidole rabo Forel, Pheidole zoceana Santschi and Pheidole parva Mayr, but is well distinguished from the latter three which have frontal carinae almost absent or vestigial. (Eguchi 2008)

Distribution
Known from North Vietnam.

This taxon was described from Vietnam.

Nomenclature

 *  colpigaleata. Pheidole colpigaleata Eguchi, 2006: 116, figs. (s.w.q.) VIETNAM. See also: Eguchi, 2008: 14.

Worker
Eguchi (2008) - Major (data from the original description). — HL 1.21–1.29 mm, HW 1.16–1.24 mm, CI 92–96, SL 0.60–0.63 mm, SI 48–53, FL 0.74–0.78 mm, FI 61–66. Minor (data from the original description). — HL 0.53–0.58 mm, HW 0.50–0.54 mm, CI 91–95, SL 0.51– 0.56 mm, SI 98–106, FL 0.53–0.58 mm, FI 106–110.

Major — Head in lateral view hardly or weakly impressed on vertex; anterior part of frons longitudinally rugose; posterior part of frons, vertex and dorsal and dorsolateral faces of vertexal lobe reticulate; frontal carina well developed, partly overhanging antennal scrobe; median longitudinal carina of clypeus absent, or present but inconspicuous; median, submedian and lateral processes of hypostoma conspicuous; outer surface of mandible (excluding basal area) smooth, bearing sparse, very short appressed hairs; antenna with a 3-segmented club; maximal diameter of eye longer than antennal segment X. Promesonotal dome in dorsal view rugoso-reticulate transversely or reticulate irregularly, in lateral view lacking a conspicuous prominence or mound on its posterior slope; humerus moderately produced laterad; the dome broader at the humeri than at the bottom. Petiole (much) longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive, in lateral view with its anteroventral part acutely produced. First gastral tergite largely smooth, but usually with a weakly sculptured area around its articulation with postpetiole.

Minor — Dorsal and lateral faces of head largely punctured, often overlain by weak rugoso-reticulation; anteromedian part of frons (just behind frontal triangle) dimly punctured; preoccipital carina inconspicuous or very weak dorsally; median part of clypeus smooth and shining; median longitudinal carina of clypeus absent, or present but inconspicuous; antenna with a 3-segmented club; scape usually exceeding posterior margin of head by the length of antennal segment II or more; maximal diameter of eye as long as or a little longer than antennal segment X. Dorsum of promesonotal dome well punctured and often overlain by weak rugoso-reticulation, or well reticulate with enclosure weakly punctured; lateral face of the dome, mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum punctured well; the dome in lateral view lacking a prominence/mound on its posterior slope; humerus of the dome in dorsal-oblique view very weakly produced laterad; propodeal spine small, elongate-triangular. Petiole longer than postpetiole (excluding helcium); postpetiole not massive, in lateral view somewhat globular.

Type Material
Holotype: major, Ba Vi N.P., Ha Tay, Vietnam, Eg01-VN-222, IEBR, examined; paratypes: 11 majors, 13 minors & 1 dealate queen, same data as holotype, IEBR,, , , FSKU & ACEG, examined.