Pheidole lovejoyi

In lowland rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Description
A member of the fallax group, most similar to Pheidole lanigera (but also scan Pheidole alienata, Pheidole cardinalis, Pheidole caribbaea, Pheidole fallax, Pheidole jelskii, Pheidole lattkei, Pheidole mantilla, Pheidole obscurior (=Pheidole susannae), Pheidole petrensis, Pheidole puttemansi, Pheidole rubiceps, Pheidole roushae, Pheidole susannae and Pheidole tobini), distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: in full-face view, profile of head posterior to eyes fringed by short, subrecumbent hairs of uniform length; in side view, center of pronotal dorsal profile raised as a low convexity; petiolar peduncle slender, its dorsal border concave in side view; pronotal dorsum partly carinulate; anterior strip of first gastral tergite foveolate and opaque.

Minor: nuchal collar present; propodeal spine reduced to obtuse angle.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.42, HL 1.50, SL 1.04, EL 0.20, PW 0.66. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.64, SL 0.94, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: head reddish brown, mesosoma plain medium brown, gaster and appendages plain light brown.

Minor: head medium brownish yellow, appendages and rest of head medium brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Fazenda Dimona, Smithsonian Institution Field Station, 90 km north of Manaus, Amazonas (E. O. Wilson).

Etymology
Named after Thomas E. Lovejoy, distinguished field biologist and my host at Fazenda Dimona.