Pheidole madrensis

Nothing is known about the biology of madrensis.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  madrensis. Pheidole madrensis Wilson, 2003: 321, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO.

Description
A member of the fallax group similar in various traits to Pheidole chiapasana, Pheidole dentata, Pheidole humeridens, Pheidole industa, Pheidole laevivertex, Pheidole maja and Pheidole tetroides, distinguished as follows.

Major: propodeal spines equilaterally triangular in side view; rugoreticulum of head a band from eye to antennal fossa; carinulae on head extend more than halfway from level of eyes to level of occiput; occipital margin in full-face view strongly convex; dorsal pronotal profile in dorsal-oblique view faintly bilobous; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angulate lateral borders; anterior and lateral pronotal margins carinulate.

Minor: a rugula stretches across the anterior rim of the middle clypeal segment; propodeal spines equilaterally triangular in side view; pronotum smoothly convex in dorsal-oblique view; occiput shallowly convex.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.24, HL 1.36, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.66. Paratype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.74, SL 0.84, EL 0.18, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: body light reddish brown, appendages dark yellow.

Minor: body rich dark reddish brown, antennae plain medium brown, other appendages reddish yellow.



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

Type Material
MEXICO: 120 km south of Creel, Barranca de Rio Batopilas, Chihuahua, 1000 m, col. W. Bell and J. Reddell.

Etymology
L madrensis, referring to the Sierra Madre Occidental, the mountains of origin of the type colony.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Vasquez-Bolanos M. 2011. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexico. Dugesiana 18(1): 95-133.
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press