Pheidole horribilis

From Wilson (2003): At Cuzco Amazónico, Peru, minor workers were found foraging on the ground and on top of a log in rainforest; one was carrying a termite worker (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Winged queens were present in a nest at Yasuni National Park, Ecuador, in April (S. O’Donnell).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type colony as well as series collected at Yasuni National Park, Puerto Tiputini, Ecuador; and Cuzco Amazónico, near Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Ecuador.

Description
Similar to Pheidole minax, Pheidole terribilis, Pheidole ursus, and species around Pheidole macromischoides, differing as follows. Major: propodeal spines stout, over half as long as basal propodeal face anterior to them; posterior half of dorsal head surface carinulate and anterior half, including frontal lobes, mostly rugoreticulate; entire promesonotum rugoreticulate; anterior half of central strip of first gastral tergite shagreened; pilosity dense, erect to suberect, and long, most hairs as long as Eye Length or longer.

Minor: propodeal spine as long as propodeal basal face; promesonotum and mesopleuron almost entirely rugoreticulate; occiput narrow, with nuchal crest, rugulose and not rugoreticulate; anterior half of central strip shagreened.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.88, HL 1.90, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.94. Paratype minor: HW 0.80, HL 0.80, SL 0.86, EL 0.14, PW 0.56.

COLOR Major: head and mesosoma rich medium reddish brown; waist, gaster, and appendages yellowish brown.

Minor: body reddish yellow except for gaster, which is plain medium brown.



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

Type Locality Information
ECUADOR: Jatun Sacha Biological Station, Misahuali (Peter Frumhoff).

Etymology
L horribilis, dreadful, bristly, rough.