Pheidole dorsata

The type colony was found in a shaded coffee plantation. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from Columbia and Guyana.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Guyana.

Nomenclature

 *  dorsata. Pheidole dorsata Wilson, 2003: 635, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A member of the tachigaliae group, characterized by 11-segmented antennae, and distinguished within it as follows.

Major: in side view, pronotal profile broken by a sharp obtuse angle; rugoreticula present mesad and laterad to eye; all of dorsum of head posterior to eye transversely carinulate except for antennal scrobes, which are smooth;humeri and anterior pronotal margin rugoreticulate; postpetiole from above very broad and narrowly elliptical in shape.

Minor: space between eyes and antennal fossae carinulate, foveolate, and opaque; rest of head smooth and shiny; in full-face view, a single, very long curving hair extends from each occipital corner; eye oval and set well forward on the head.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.68, HL 0.74, SL 0.30, EL 0.08, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.36, HL 0.40, SL 0.28, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: body light brown, appendages yellowish brown.

Minor: body medium brown, appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Finca El Recreo, Magdalena, 850 m, col. Charles Kugler.

Etymology
L dorsata, of a ridge or back of a hill, referring to the peaked pronotum of the major in side view.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Wilson E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press