Pheidole gilva

This species is only known from type specimens. The type colony was found in mature terra firme rainforest, nesting in a 8-cm-wide dead branch 3 m from the ground. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

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

Nomenclature

 *  gilva. Pheidole gilva Wilson, 2003: 427, figs. (s.w.) PERU.

Description
Similar in various traits to Pheidole angulifera, Pheidole erratilis, Pheidole schmalzi and Pheidole viriosa. Differing as follows.

Major: yellow; humeri in dorsal-oblique view are a “sharkfin” shape, pointing forward, and from above extend just beyond the margins of the pronotum below; propodeal spines more than half as long as the propodeal basal face preceding them; postpetiole from above diamond-shaped; rugoreticulum fills space between each eye and adjacent antennal fossa, and rest of dorsal head surface mostly carinulate; most of dorsal head surface and all of mesosoma foveolate.

Minor: humeri acute-angular, each bearing a long seta at the tip; occiput narrowed, with a nuchal collar; all of head, mesosoma, and waist foveolate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.12, HL 1.10, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.62, SL 0.62, EL 0.08, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium yellow. Minor: concolorous pale yellow.



'''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
L gilva, pale yellow, alluding to color of minor.