Pheidole balzani Emery

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 661

Pheidole balzani Emery

Pheidole balzani Emery 1894d: 161.

Types Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova.

Etymology Named after the collector, Luigi Balzan.

diagnosis A large, robust member of the tristis group with quadrate head shape in full-face view, similar to fabricator , gaigei , godmani , grantae , nigella , and tristis , and distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: head quadrate, with shallow median occipital cleft in full-face view; hind femora swollen in middle; frontal lobe extended as short angular protrusion in side view; humerus in dorsal-oblique view very prominent, and right-subtriangular in outline; postpetiole bell-shaped from above; all of pronotal dorsum transversely carinulate.

Minor: humerus prominent, subangulate; carinulae originating from frontal carinae curve laterally toward sides of head; pronotal dorsum transversely carinulate.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.58, HL 1.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.80. Paratype minor: HW 0.72, HL 0.72, SL 0.72, EL 0.12, PW 0.48.

Color Major: body and mandibles dark reddish brown, appendages medium brownish yellow. Minor: body plain medium brown, appendages plain light brown.

Range Known only from the type locality and Rancho Grande, Venezuela, 1100 m.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major; the leg part shown is the right hind femur (Salinas, Rio Beni, Bolivia). Lower: minor, tentatively associated with holotype by Carlos Emery (Bolivia). Scale bars = 1 mm.