Pheidole torosa

Nothing is known about the biology of torosa.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Mexico.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A member of the “pilifera complex” of the larger pilifera group, comprising Pheidole calens, Pheidole californica, Pheidole carrolli, Pheidole cavigenis, Pheidole clementensis, Pheidole creightoni, Pheidole hoplitica, Pheidole littoralis, Pheidole micula, Pheidole pilifera, Pheidole polymorpha, Pheidole rugulosa, Pheidole senex, Pheidole soritis, Pheidole tepicana and Pheidole torosa, which complex is distinguished by the following traits. Major: dorsal head surface extensively sculptured; occipital lobe transversely rugulose (or, in carrolli smooth, in littoralis foveate, and in micula and soritis carinulate); postpetiole from above diamond-shaped, trapezoidal, or spinose. Minor: eye medium-sized to large.

P. torosa is distinguished within the complex as follows.

Major: bicolorous; transverse rugulae cover posterior fifth of dorsal surface of head in full-face view, and longitudinal carinulae cover all of the remainder of the dorsal surface except the frontal triangle; humerus in dorsal-oblique view prominent and lobose; in side view, mesonotum drops almost vertically to metanotum; propodeal spines very long, stout, and vertical to propodeal basal face; seen from above, postpetiole very wide relative to petiole, and spinose.

Minor: all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque; pilosity along promesonotal dorsum consists of evenly spaced pairs of setae. This species is very close to and possibly synonymous with Pheidole senex.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.56, HL 1.84, SL 0.76, EL 0.20, PW 0.68. Paratype minor: HW 0.58, HL 0.64, SL 0.62, EL 0.14, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: bicolorous, with light reddish brown head and appendages contrasting with dark brown mesosoma and gaster.

Minor: concolorous light brown.



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

Type Locality Information
MEXICO: El Sueco, Chihuahua.

Etymology
L torosa, muscular, bulging, a reference to the major caste.

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