Pheidole gibba

Nothing is known about the biology of gibba.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina states, Brazil. (Wilson 2003)

This taxon was described from Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  gibba. Pheidole gibba Mayr, 1887: 590 (s.), 604 (w.) BRAZIL. Senior synonym of lopesi: Kempf, 1972b: 455. See also: Wilson, 2003: 695.
 * lopesi. Pheidole gibba var. lopesi Borgmeier, 1937b: 233 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of gibba: Kempf, 1972b: 455.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Very distinctive within Pheidole as a whole.

Major: large; slender; humeri very prominent, subangulate, each forming a large equilateral triangle in dorsal-oblique view; pronotum with transversely rugulose dorsum and vertically carinulate sides; all of dorsal surface of head carinulate except occiput and frontal triangle, which are smooth; carinulae that originate from posterior half of sides of frontal lobes curve laterally and then posteriorly; postpetiole diamond-shaped from above.

Minor: humeri as in major (q.v.); all of mesosomal dorsum foveolate; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.96, HL 2.10, SL 1.22, EL 0.24, PW 0.98. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.84, HL 1.00, SL 1.12, EL 0.18, PW 0.58.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium reddish brown.

Minor: body light reddish brown, appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
BRAZIL: Santa Catarina. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L gibba, humpbacked, referring to the extended humeri. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Mayr, G. 1887. Südamerikanische Formiciden. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 37: 511–632.

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