Pheidole minutula

Colonies were found at Belém by Joseph Bequaert and near Manaus by myself in the swollen leaf bases of the melastome understory shrub Maieta guianensis. The species was abundant where I collected it from the swollen leaf bases of Maieta guianensis (Wilson 1984b). I was able to keep colonies alive and growing in artificial nests away from the melastomes. P. minutula may be the host of another species, Pheidole microgyna, but the status of this form is problematic (Wilson 1984b). Winged queens have been found in nests from July to September. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Widespread from Panama and Guyana to Amazonian Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru.

Nomenclature

 *  minutula. Pheidole minutula Mayr, 1878: 872 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Wheeler, W.M. 1942: 191 (q.m.). Senior synonym of folicola, personata: Wilson, 2003: 458.
 * folicola. Pheidole minutula r. folicola Forel, 1904e: 681 (s.w.q.m.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of minutula: Wilson, 2003: 458.
 * personata. Pheidole minutula var. personata Santschi, 1929d: 291 (s.w.) GUYANA. Junior synonym of minutula: Wilson, 2003: 458.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A very small, yellow species, found in the myrmecophyte Maieta, distinguished in the major by the relatively high, subangulate humerus seen in dorsal-oblique view, the extrusion of the humeral angles slightly beyond the lower part of the pronotum beneath when seen from above, and the parallel longitudinal carinulae covering the anterior half of the head capsule; and in both castes by the mostly smooth and shiny body surface.

Similar to Pheidole nitidicollis and Pheidole tenerescens but distinguished by its flatter promesonotal profile, much shallower occiput in full-face view, and absence of transverse carinulae on the anterior pronotal dorsum. See also the less similar arhuaca, flavifrons, and other species listed as close to arhuaca; and compare the queen to the small, possibly parasitic microgyna.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.76, HL 0.86, SL 0.42, EL 0.14, PW 0.40. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.38, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: body concolorous yellow; gaster, antennae, and legs a shade lighter. Minor: concolorous yellow.



'''Figure. Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Amazonas, col. James Trail. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L minutula, very small. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Mayr, G. 1878 (“1877”). Formiciden gesammelt in Brasilien von Professor Trail. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 27: 867–878.

Wilson, E. O. 1984b. Tropical social parasites in the ant genus Pheidole, with an analysis of the anatomical parasitic syndrome (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ins. Soc. 31: 316–334.

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