Pheidole palenquensis

This species is only known from type specimens. The type series was collected in forest. (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.

Nomenclature

 *  palenquensis. Pheidole palenquensis Wilson, 2003: 482, figs. (s.w.) ECUADOR.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole albipes, Pheidole alticola, Pheidole chalca, Pheidole ebenina, Pheidole euryscopa, Pheidole lustrata, Pheidole hedlundorum, Pheidole monteverdensis and Pheidole servilia, distinguished as follows.

Major: very small; head quadrate; dorsal occiput covered by broken, irregular rugulae, rest of dorsal head surface carinulate except for frontal triangle and midclypeus, which are smooth; all of body foveolate and opaque except gaster, which is smooth and shiny; antennal scapes moderately long, their tips touching lateral margins of the head midway between level of eyes and level of occiput; propodeal spines curved backward (“melted” in appearance). Minor: eye oval, set well forward on head; promesonotal profile in side view perfectly semicircular; propodeal spines curved or straight; carinulae limited to antennal fossae, and all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.66, HL 0.66, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.34. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.44, SL 0.42, EL 0.08, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: body dark reddish yellow, appendages medium yellow. Minor: body light brownish yellow, appendages medium yellow.



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

Type Material
ECUADOR: Rio Palenque Station, 47 km south of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Pichincha, 215 m, col. S. and J. Peck.

Etymology
Named after the type locality.