Pheidole auropilosa

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 658

Pheidole auropilosa Mayr

Pheidole auropilosa Mayr 1887: 596.

Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

etymology L auropilosa , golden (yellow) hair.

Diagnosis A very large, yellow member of the tristis group strongly distinguished by the following traits.

Major: humerus seen in dorsal-oblique view very prominent, bluntly right-angular; a convex process extrudes from center of postpetiolar venter in side view; postpetiolar node diamond-shaped from above; anterior two-thirds of dorsal surface of head densely covered by longitudinal carinulae, those originating from the anterior margin of the lateral clypeal border curving outward toward the eye and those originating from the posterior frontal carinae traveling to the sides of the head.

Minor: occipital border broad, lacking nuchal collar; postpetiole diamond-shaped from above.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 2.06, HL 2.06, SL 1.10, EL 0.22, PW 0.86.

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.84, HL 0.84, SL 1.04, EL 0.14, PW 0.52.

Color Major: body light reddish yellow, shaded slightly darker on the gaster.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.

Range Southeastern Brazil, from Espirito Santo south to Rio Grande do Sul, and Misiones, Argentina.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. BRAZIL: Santa Catarina. Scale bars = 1 mm.