Pheidole gaigei

Nothing is known about the biology of gaigei.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Colombia.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A member of the tristis group, similar to Pheidole balzani, Pheidole godmani, Pheidole grandinodus, Pheidole huilana, Pheidole obrima, and, less so, to species listed with them, distinguished as follows.

Major: postpetiole from above bell-shaped, 2X broader than petiole; postpetiole with prominent ventral, forward-projecting subangular process; anterior third of pronotal dorsum and all of mesopleuron carinulate; carinulae on dorsal surface of head reach midway between eye and occipital border.

Minor: occiput very broad, lacking nuchal collar; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; margins all around of pronotal dorsum, as well as lower half of mesopleuron, carinulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.28, HL 1.38, SL 0.72, EL 0.08, PW 0.62. Syntype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.72, SL 0.66, EL 0.12, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: concolorous light reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
and - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
COLOMBIA: Mt. San Lorenzo, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, 1700 m. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Eponymous. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Forel, A. 1914. Einige amerikanische Ameisen. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1914: 615–620.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.