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 aenescens
new species
Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
etymology L
aenescens
, bronze-like, referring to the body color.
diagnosis A medium-sized light reddish brown ("coppery") member of the
fallax
group similar to the species listed in the heading above, distinguished by the following combination of traits.
Major: head heart-shaped with extensive, wide-celled rugoreticulum ranging from mesad to the eyes and laterad from the frontal lobes posteriorly to the occiput along the midline, but with the occipital lobes remaining smooth and shiny; pilosity long and very dense over the entire dorsal surface of the body. Minor: occiput narrowed, with narrow nuchal collar.
In both major and minor the scapes are covered with long, erect and suberect hairs, not illustrated. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.06, HL 1.14, SL 0.94, EL 0.20, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.70, SL 0.90, EL 0.16, PW 0.40.
color Major: antennae and body rich light reddish brown ("coppery") except for the gaster, which is plain brown; legs yellow.
Range Known only from the type locality.
Biology Unknown.
Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. BRAZIL: Utinga Tract, near Belem, Para (P. F. Darlington). Scale bars = 1 mm.