Pheidole cuevasi

The type series was reared by Stefan Cover (personal communication) from an incipient colony found in terra firme rainforest at Cuzco Amazónico, Peru, and nesting in a large, crumbling dead log. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): In addition to the Peruvian type series, I have seen series collected near Diamantino, Mato Grosso, and Benjamin Constant, Amazonas, Brazil, col. W. L. Brown.

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

Nomenclature

 *  cuevasi. Pheidole cuevasi Wilson, 2003: 280, figs. (s.w.) PERU.

Description
A member of the “jujuyensis complex” of the larger fallax group, comprising Pheidole araneoides, Pheidole cuevasi, Pheidole durionei, Pheidole jujuyensis, Pheidole kugleri, Pheidole leonina, Pheidole leptina, Pheidole lucretii, Pheidole lupus, Pheidole paraensis, Pheidole punctithorax, Pheidole tijucana, Pheidole wallacei and Pheidole wolfringi, which complex is characterized in both major and minor by slender body form and exceptionally long antennal scapes and petiolar pedicels; also in the major by a proportionately small head; and in the minor by a strongly developed nuchal collar. P. cuevasi is distinguished as follows.

Major: rugoreticulum covering all the dorsal surface of the head except the occipital lobes, frontal lobes, and middle of clypeus; antennal scapes just reach the occipital corners; pronotal dorsum partly covered by transverse carinulae; first gastral tergite entirely smooth and shiny.

Minor: occipital neck extremely drawn out, and nuchal collar prominent; propodeal spines reduced to denticles.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.56, HL 1.62, SL 1.32, EL 0.22, PW 0.80. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 1.04, SL 1.58, EL 0.20, PW 0.44.

COLOR Both castes reddish yellow.

Major: body and mandibles reddish yellow (“orange”) to very light reddish brown.

Minor: reddish yellow (“light orange”).



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

Type Material
PERU: Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, col. Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin.

Etymology
Named after John de Cuevas, friend, author, and field companion.