Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus.
Author
Wilson, E. O.
text
2003
Harvard University Press
Cambridge, MA
http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/reference-full.html?id=20017
book
20017
Pheidole gravida
new species
Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology L
gravida
, laden, referring to the heavy-looking prpmesothorax.
Diagnosis Similar in various respects to the species listed in the heading above.
Major: yellow; center of midclypeus raised to a small point; frontal lobes extended slightly, and subangulate in side view; median ocellus or a small pit in ocellar location present, as shown; promesonotum massive, descending through a long, steep face to the metanotum; very faint antennal scrobe present; propodeal spines equilaterally triangular; postpetiolar node from above elliptical, 2X as broad as petiolar node.
Minor: humerus denticulate and mesonotal convexity subangulate in dorsal-oblique view; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; anterior pronotal fringe and propodeal dorsum carinulate.
Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.60, SL 0.62, EL 0.18, PW 0.86.
Paratype minor: HW 0.66, HL 0.70, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.
COLOR Major: reddish medium yellow.
Minor: plain medium yellow.
Range Known only from type locality.
Biology Unknown.
Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. VENEZUELA: San Cristobal-La Florida Road, LaBlanca to Mundo Nuevo, Tachira, 1100 m (J. Lattke and W. L. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.