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 similigena Wheeler
Pheidole similigena Wheeler
1937b: 446.
types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology L
similigena
, similar cheeks (genae), allusion unknown.
diagnosis Especially similar to
terresi
of Hispaniola but also sharing traits with
amabilis
,
arhuaca
,
citrina
,
crinita
,
delicata
,
hedlundorum
,
laselva
,
mallota
,
melastomae
,
nitidicollis
, and
tillandsiarum
, differing as follows.
Major: light reddish brown; eyes very small, Eye Length less than one-tenth Head Width; head subrectangular, with moderately deep occipital cleft; mesonotal convexity present but rudimentary; carinulae cover most of anterior half of dorsal head surface, and rest of body entirely smooth and shiny; propodeal spines moderately long, and thick at base; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angulate sides.
Minor: body almost completely smooth and shiny; eyes relatively small; occiput broad, its margin flat in full-face view; propodeal spines moderately long and thin.
Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.96, HL 1.08, SL 0.50, EL 0.08, PW 0.46. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.44, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.
Color Major: concolorous light reddish brown except for gaster, which is medium reddish brown. Minor: concolorous light yellowish brown.
Range In addition to the types from Las Villas Province, I have seen specimens from Sierra de Mesa, Pinar del Rio, also in Cuba (Jorge Fontenla).
Biology Unknown.
figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. CUBA: Buenos Aires, Trinidad Mts., Las Villas, 750-1100 m (P. J. Darlington). Scale bars = 1 mm.