Pheidole melastomae, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 451

publication ID

20017

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6276226

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AB7049D3-06B3-0E22-4B04-AB64755B9B41

treatment provided by

Donat

scientific name

Pheidole melastomae
status

new species

Pheidole melastomae   HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L melastomae   HNS , referring to the preferred melastome nesting site.

Diagnosis A medium-sized, yellow member of the flavens   HNS group characterized by a nearly complete absence in major and minor of sculpturing anywhere behind the anterior half of the head, the reduction of the propodeal spine to an obtuse angle, the very small size of the propodeal spiracle, shallow occipital concavity in full-face view, and abundant long pilosity. The major is further distinguished by its overall flattened mesosomal dorsal profile and laterally angulate postpetiole. Similar species: amabilis   HNS , boliviana   HNS , mixteca   HNS , scitula   HNS , terresi   HNS , and tysoni   HNS . Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.80, HL 0.84, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.46, SL 0.42, EL 0.06, PW 0.24.

color Major: body mostly clear medium yellow, with dorsum of head and mandibles brownish yellow. Minor: concolorous light to medium yellow.

Range Known from the type locality in Panama and from Colombia (near San Jose, Choco, localities in Valle) and Ecuador (Endesa, Pichincha).

Biology Hilly rainforest, nesting in myrmecophytic melastomes (Leeanne Tennant-Alonso in Panama and Colombia). Winged males were present in a nest in Colombia in early June and in Panama in early July.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PANAMA: Estacion Nusagandi, Comarca de Kuna Yala, 350 m (Leeanne Tennant-Alonso). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Pheidole

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