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 flavifrons
new species
Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology L
flavifrons
, yellow front, pertaining to the anterior half of the major's head.
Diagnosis A medium-sized, uniquely multicolored member of the
flavens
group, whose major has a prominent, subangular humerus and exclusively carinulate head, and the minor has a dentate humerus.
Most similar to
arhuaca
of Colombia but with different color, and in the major a smooth (not foveolate) pronotal dorsum; and to
amazonica
, differing in head sculpture and shape of humerus.
See also the less similar
minutula
,
nitidicollis
, and
tenerescens
, and other species listed as close to
arhuaca
(q.v.). Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.86, HL 0.92, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.40, EL 0.08, PW 0.28.
Color Major: anterior half of head yellow, posterior half yellowish brown, with a dark brown circular spot in the center of the head capsule dorsum; body medium brown, mandibles and scape light brown, rest of appendages yellow. Minor: body dark brown; appendages, clypeus, and anterior genal margins yellow.
range Known only from the type locality in Amazonian Peru.
Biology The type series was taken from beneath the bark of a tree in a terra firme tree fall.
figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Scale bars = 1 mm.