Pheidole pygmaea

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

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type locality and from localities in Chocó and Cundinamarca, Colombia. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Colombia.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar to Pheidole christopherseni, Pheidole exquisita, Pheidole nigricula, Pheidole nitella, Pheidole olsoni, Pheidole protensa and Pheidole sagittaria, differing as follows.

Major: yellow; eye large, oval, set far forward on head; head elongate; occipital cleft broad, deep, its nadir semicircular; propodeal spines reduced to right angles; propodeal spiracle large, as wide as base of spines; petiolar node tapers to a point; carinulae mesad to eyes extend almost halfway to occipital lobes; carinulae originating at rear of frontal lobes spread laterally, away from the midline; small patches of foveolae present on mesopleuron and petiolar peduncle, and mesosoma, waist, and gaster otherwise smooth and shiny. Minor: eye very large, set far forward, tapered slightly toward anterior end; anterior half of head partly carinulate and foveolate, and entire remainder of head and body smooth and shiny.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.74, HL 0.90, SL 0.40, EL 0.10, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.40, EL 0.08, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: body dark yellow, appendages medium yellow.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
COLOMBIA: TV Tower Road, Saldido, west of Cali, Valle, 1900–2100 m, col. W. L. Brown and R. B. Root.

Etymology
L pygmaea, dwarf.

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