Pheidole lignicola

This species is only known from type specimens. Nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  lignicola. Pheidole lignicola Mayr, 1887: 586 (s.), 602 (w.) BRAZIL. Senior synonym of levocciput: Wilson, 2003: 444.
 * levocciput. Pheidole lignicola var. levocciput Forel, 1908c: 370 (s.w.m.) PARAGUAY. Junior synonym of lignicola: Wilson, 2003: 444.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole ceibana, Pheidole dentigula, Pheidole harrisonfordi, Pheidole metallescens, distinguished as follows.

Major: yellowish brown; occiput and space between eye and antennal fossa on each side rugoreticulate; most of rest of dorsal surface of head carinulate; antennal scape relatively long, its tip touching the sides of the head just posterior to the midpoint between the eye and level of the occipital lobe; mesonotal convexity well defined both anteriorly and posteriorly; humerus, in dorsal-oblique view low and smoothly rounded; propodeal spine moderately long and thin; postpetiole from above narrow and oval; almost all of body except gaster foveolate.

Minor: posterior half of venter of head in profile weakly concave; humerus in dorsal-oblique view subangulate; propodeal spine vertical to propodeal basal face; occiput slightly narrowed, its margin weakly concave, and nuchal collar absent. Almost all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.88, HL 0.90, SL 0.56, EL 0.10, PW 0.44. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.52, SL 0.50, EL 0.06, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: medium yellowish brown.

Minor: light yellowish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: major, compared with lectotype. Lower: minor, compared with paralectotype. BRAZIL: Caraguatatuba, São Paulo, col. W. L. Brown. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
Santa Catarina, Brazil. - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L lignicola, dwelling in wood. (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Lutinski J. A., B. C. Lopes, and A. B. B.de Morais. 2013. Diversidade de formigas urbanas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de dez cidades do sul do Brasil. Biota Neotrop. 13(3): 332-342.
 * Rosa da Silva R. 1999. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) do oeste de Santa Catarina: historico das coletas e lista atualizada das especies do Estado de Santa Catarina. Biotemas 12(2): 75-100.
 * Wild, A. L. "A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 1622 (2007): 1-55.
 * Zolessi L. C. de, Y. P. Abenante, and M. E. de Philippi. 1988. Lista sistematica de las especies de Formicidos del Uruguay. Comun. Zool. Mus. Hist. Nat. Montev. 11: 1-9.
 * Zolessi L. C. de; Y. P. de Abenante, and M. E. Philippi. 1989. Catálogo sistemático de las especies de Formícidos del Uruguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Montevideo: ORCYT Unesco, 40 + ix pp.
 * de Zolessi, L.C., Y.P. de Abenante and M.E. Philippi. 1987. Lista sistemática de las especies de formícidos del Uruguay. Comunicaciones Zoologicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo 11(165):1-9
 * de Zolessi, L.C., Y.P. de Abenante and M.E. Phillipi. 1989. Catalago Systematico de las Especies de Formicidos del Uruguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Oficina Regional de Ciencia y Technologia de la Unesco para America Latina y el Caribe- ORCYT. Montevideo, Uruguay