Pheidole laudatana

The type series was collected in elfin forest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known only from the type locality in montane Dominica. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Dominica, Guadeloupe.

Nomenclature

 *  laudatana. Pheidole laudatana Wilson, 2003: 715, figs. (s.w.) DOMINICA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A member of the tristis group, and in particular the complex of West Indian species that include Pheidole alayoi, Pheidole bakeri, Pheidole macromischoides and Pheidole naylae of Cuba, Pheidole hispaniolae of the Dominican Republic, and Pheidole godmani of St. Vincent, as well as their close relatives Pheidole sabina of Mexico and Pheidole prattorum of Costa Rica. Distinguished in the major and minor workers by a unique combination of traits in shape and sculpturing, especially in the head and mesonotum, size of the propodeal spine, overall pilosity, and other characters as shown.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.12, HL 1.18, SL 0.72,. EL 0.12, PW 0.58. Paratype minor: HW 0.58, HL 0.64, SL 0.64, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: body and mandibles light brown, other appendages yellow.

Minor: body light yellowish brown, mandibles and other appendages medium yellow.



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

Type Material
DOMINICA, WEST INDIES: Morne Macaque, elfin forest on road to Fresh Water Lake, 1.5 km east of Laudat, about 800 m, col. M. E. and P. D. Perkins.

Etymology
Name based on the type locality.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Deyrup, Mark and Zachary A. Prusak. 2008. Solenopsis enigmatica, A New Species of Inquiline Ant From the Island of Dominica, West Indies. Florida Entomologist 91(1):70-74.
 * Galkowski C. 2016. New data on the ants from the Guadeloupe (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bull. Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 151, 44(1): 25-36.