Pheidole gibba

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 695

Pheidole gibba Mayr

Pheidole gibba Mayr 1887: 590. Syn.: Pheidole gibba var. lopesi Borgmeier 1937b: 233, synonymy by Kempf 1972d: 455. Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology L gibba , humpbacked, referring to the extended humeri.

Diagnosis Very distinctive within Pheidole as a whole.

Major: large; slender; humeri very prominent, subangulate, each forming a large equilateral triangle in dorsal-oblique view; pronotum with transversely rugulose dorsum and vertically carinulate sides; all of dorsal surface of head carinulate except occiput and frontal triangle, which are smooth; carinulae that originate from posterior half of sides of frontal lobes curve laterally and then posteriorly; postpetiole diamond-shaped from above.

Minor: humeri as in major (q.v.); all of mesosomal dorsum foveolate; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.96, HL 2.10, SL 1.22, EL 0.24, PW 0.98.

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.84, HL 1.00, SL 1.12, EL 0.18, PW 0.58.

Color Major: concolorous medium reddish brown.

Minor: body light reddish brown, appendages brownish yellow.

Range Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina states, Brazil.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. BRAZIL: Santa Catarina. Scale bars = 1 mm.