Pheidole bruchella

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

Identification
Similar in various traits to Pheidole breviscapa (=Pheidole perpusilla), Pheidole caracalla, Pheidole micon, Pheidole subreticulata and Pheidole tennantae, differing as follows.

Major: brown; metanotum seen from side raised as a ridge; mesonotal convexity seen from side subangulate; pronotal dorsum in dorsal-oblique view bilobate; postpetiole from above trapezoidal; occipital lobes smooth and shiny; rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa on each side; most of dorsal head surface and anterior half of pronotal dorsum carinulate.

Body dark brown, appendages medium brown.

Minor: ventral surface of head in profile feebly concave; all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque; propodeal spines small; occiput narrowed slightly, but with strongly concave margin and no nuchal collar. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Argentina.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole breviscapa (=Pheidole perpusilla), Pheidole caracalla, Pheidole micon, Pheidole subreticulata and Pheidole tennantae, differing as follows.

Major: brown; metanotum seen from side raised as a ridge; mesonotal convexity seen from side subangulate; pronotal dorsum in dorsal-oblique view bilobate; postpetiole from above trapezoidal; occipital lobes smooth and shiny; rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa on each side; most of dorsal head surface and anterior half of pronotal dorsum carinulate.

Minor: ventral surface of head in profile feebly concave; all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque; propodeal spines small; occiput narrowed slightly, but with strongly concave margin and no nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.94, SL 0.50, EL 0.10, PW 0.48. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.52, SL 0.62, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: body dark brown, appendages medium brown.



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

Type Locality Information
Argentina. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Named for the Argentine entomologist Carlos Bruch. (Wilson 2003)