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 dione
Forel,
new status
Pheidole rufipilis var. dione
Forel 1913m: 225.
Types Mus. Hist. Nat. Geneve.
Etymology Gr
dione
, a matronymic name for Aphrodite.
Diagnosis A member of the
fallax
group, most similar to the species listed in the heading above, distinguished as follows. Major: antennal scapes reaching within 2X their maximum width to occipital corners; rugoreticulum on each side of head forming a band from eye laterally to antennal fossa and forward slightly anterior to eye; carinulae on frontal lobes limited to their lateral margins and extending posteriorly to midway between eye and occipital margin; propodeal spines small, equilaterally triangular; pronotal profde in dorsal-oblique view a single convexity, and mesonotal profde subangular; postpetiole from above laterally subangulate; pronotum smooth; pilosity dense and long, many hairs longer than Eye Length.
Minor: pilosity long, some hairs 2X Eye Length; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; mesonotal convexity in dorsal-oblique view subangulate; occiput in frontal view feebly convex.
Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.34, SL 0.94, EL 0.18, PW 0.62.
Paralectotype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.
color Major: body and appendages plain light brown.
Minor: body plain light brown, appendages yellowish brown.
Range Known only from the types.
Biology Unknown.
Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. ARGENTINA: Jujuy. Scale bars = 1 mm.