Pheidole distorta

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 253

Pheidole distorta Forel

Pheidole distorta Forel 1899e: 74.

Types Mus. Ffist. Nat. Geneve.

Etymology L distorta , misshapen, deformed.

diagnosis A bizarre member of the distorta group, closest to monstrosa , reclusi , and scapulata , distinguished from these and other species in the group by the absence of propodeal spines and, in the major, by an extreme bulging, "humpback" promesonotal profile, with the mesonotum descending to the basal propodeal face by a long vertical plane. Also remarkable in the contrast between the heavily sculptured major, with the dorsa of the head and promesonotum rugoreticulum, and the entirely smooth and shiny minor. measurements (mm) Major (Parque Tayrona, Colombia): HW 1.16, HL 1.36, SL 0.56, EL 0.14, PW 0.82. Minor (Parque Tayrona): HW 0.60, HL 0.60, SL 0.56, EL 0.12, PW 0.38.

color Major: body concolorous dark reddish brown except for gaster, which is blackish brown.

Minor: body concolorous medium reddish brown except for gaster, which is blackish brown; mandibles yellow.

Range Known only from Magdalena, northern Colombia.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: major. Lower: minor. COLOMBIA: Parque Tayrona, Magdalena. (Minor compared with syntype in Forel Collection, Mus. Hist. Nat. Geneve.) (Type locality: Santa Marta, Magdalena.) Scale bars = 1 mm.