Pheidole valens

The type colony was found in a soil nest whose entrance hole was surrounded by pebbles, in a cerrado-like secondary thicket. (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: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  valens. Pheidole valens Wilson, 2003: 359, figs. (s.w.) BRAZIL.

Description
A member of the fallax group with similarities to Pheidole fallax, Pheidole jelskii, Pheidole obscurithorax, Pheidole puttemansi and Pheidole roushae, distinguished as follows.

Major: head quadrate; almost all of anterior two-thirds of dorsal surface of head (except frontal triangle, antennal fossae, and clypeus) rugoreticulate, and posterior third foveolate; anterior half of pronotal dorsum rugoreticulate; antennal scape near base slightly broader than near tip; pronotum weakly bilobous in dorsal-oblique view; metanotum convex in side view; petiole thick in side view, but the apex of its node tapering almost to a point; median strip of entire first gastral tergite shagreened and opaque.

Minor: all of head, mesosoma, and waist foveolate and opaque; anterior half of median strip shagreened.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.70, HL 1.80, SL 1.02, EL 0.26, PW 0.92. Paratype minor: HW 0.66, HL 0.84, SL 1.04, EL 0.18, PW 0.54.

COLOR Major: head, mesosoma, and petiole medium reddish brown; postpetiole and gaster dark reddish brown.

Minor: body medium reddish brown except for gaster, which is dark reddish brown; appendages light reddish brown.



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

Type Material
BRAZIL: Mpio. Livramento, Mato Grosso, James C. Trager.

Etymology
L valens, strong, vigorous.