Pheidole lemnisca

This species is only known from type specimens. Males were collected with the type colony, 1–4 June. (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: Colombia, Ecuador.

Nomenclature

 *  lemnisca. Pheidole lemnisca Wilson, 2003: 443, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar to Pheidole ceibana, Pheidole peltastes, Pheidole renae, Pheidole tayrona and Pheidole xyston, distinguished as follows. Major: unique color pattern (see Color below); needle-like propodeal spine; prominent humeral lobe; and small but distinct mesonotal convexity.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.36, EL 0.10, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.42, SL 0.40, EL 0.10, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: all yellow except for a conspicuous light brown transverse stripe along the rear border of each gastral tergite and a contrasting light brown circular spot on the vertex.

Minor: concolorous yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: on a ridge, Finca Los Guaduales, 10 km southwest San José del Palmar, Rio Torito, Chocó, col. C. Kugler.

Etymology
L lemnisca, ribbon or band, referring to the transverse color stripes on the gaster.

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