Pheidole mallota

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

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Panama.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole amabilis, Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole citrina, Pheidole crinita, Pheidole delicata, Pheidole hedlundorum, Pheidole laselva, Pheidole melastomae, Pheidole nitidicollis, Pheidole similigena, Pheidole terresi and Pheidole tillandsiarum, differing as follows.

Major: yellow; head as broad as long; antennal scapes long, their tips touching sides of head much more than halfway from eye to occipital corner; propodeal spines moderately long, directed backward, and curved; pilosity long, and many of the hairs curved and tangled; promesonotal profile flat; apex of petiolar node in side view broad and rounded; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angulate sides; carinulae cover only anterior half of head dorsum; most of body smooth and shiny.

Minor: eye narrow; occiput broad, convex; antennal scapes exceed occipital margins by a third their own length; propodeal spines very thin, needle-like.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.90, HL 0.90, SL 0.58, EL 0.10, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.54, SL 0.60, EL 0.06, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium yellow, with a dark yellow spot on vertex.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
PANAMA: Nusagandi, San Blas, col. Leeanne E. Tennant-Alonso.

Etymology
Gr mallota, woolly, referring to dense, curving pilosity of body.