Pheidole tillandsiarum

This species is only known from type specimens. The type colony was collected from an epiphyte (Tillandsia streptophylla) in Veracruz, Mexico (Wilson 2003). Its identity is uncertain and it could be Pheidole flavens or Pheidole navigans (Longino, 2019).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  tillandsiarum. Pheidole floridana subsp. tillandsiarum Wheeler, W.M. 1934g: 166 (s.w.) MEXICO. Raised to species: Wilson, 2003: 525.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS Similar in various details to Pheidole amabilis, Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole citrina, Pheidole crinita, Pheidole delicata, Pheidole floridana, Pheidole hedlundorum, Pheidole mallota, Pheidole melastomae, Pheidole nitidicollis, Pheidole similigena, and Pheidole terresi, differing as follows. Major: yellow; occipital lobes smooth and shiny, and most of rest of head carinulate and sparsely foveolate; carinulate immediately mesad to eye curve forward (in side view) to travel to the anterior genal border; mesonotal convexity present but rudimentary; entire mesosoma foveolate; postpetiole from above trapezoidal.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.86, HL 0.90, SL 0.44, EL 0.12, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: medium yellow with reddish overtone except for appendages and gaster, which are plain medium yellow.



'''Figure. Lectotype, major. Minor not seen. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
Described from a number of soldiers and workers (Nos. 201 and 218), taken by Dr. Skwarra at Mirador, Vera Cruz, nesting in Tillandsia streptophylla. MEXICO: Mirador, Veracruz, col. Elisabeth Skwarra.

, minors not seen - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Etymology
L tillandsiarum, belonging to tillandsias (bromeliad epiphytes). (Wilson 2003)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
 * Wilson, E.O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A Dominant, Hyperdiverse Genus. Harvard University Press