Pheidole balzani

Nothing is known about the biology of balzani.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from the type locality and Rancho Grande, Venezuela, 1100 m. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Bolivia. It is also found in Venezuela.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A large, robust member of the tristis group with quadrate head shape in full-face view, similar to Pheidole fabricator, Pheidole gaigei, Pheidole godmani, Pheidole grantae (=Pheidole exarata), Pheidole nigella and Pheidole tristis, and distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: head quadrate, with shallow median occipital cleft in full-face view; hind femora swollen in middle; frontal lobe extended as short angular protrusion in side view; humerus in dorsal-oblique view very prominent, and right-subtriangular in outline; postpetiole bell-shaped from above; all of pronotal dorsum transversely carinulate.

Minor: humerus prominent, subangulate; carinulae originating from frontal carinae curve laterally toward sides of head; pronotal dorsum transversely carinulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.58, HL 1.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.80. Paratype minor: HW 0.72, HL 0.72, SL 0.72, EL 0.12, PW 0.48.

COLOR Major: body and mandibles dark reddish brown, appendages medium brownish yellow.

Minor: body plain medium brown, appendages plain light brown.



'''Figure. Upper: holotype, major; the leg part shown is the right hind femur. Lower: minor, tentatively associated with holotype by Carlos Emery (Bolivia). Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Salinas, Rio Beni, Bolivia.

Etymology
Named after the collector, Luigi Balzan. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Emery, C. 1894. Studi sulle formiche della fauna neotropica, VI–XVI. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 26: 137–241.

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