Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus.
Author
Wilson, E. O.
text
2003
Harvard University Press
Cambridge, MA, USA
http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/reference-full.html?id=20017
book
20017
Pheidole spilota
new species
types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology Gr
spilota
, spotted, stained, with reference to spot on vertex.
diagnosis A member of the
diligens
group similar in various characters to the species listed in the heading above, distinguished as follows.
Major: head yellowish brown with a light brown spot on vertex; antennal scape fails to reach occipital comer by about its own maximum width; mesonotal convexity angulate in side view; propodeal spine stout and a third as long as the basal propodeal face; no rugoreticulum on head; carinulae along frontal carinae spread strongly outward, and those next to dorsal midline reach the occiput; anterior median strip of first gastral tergite lightly shagreened; body densely covered with hairs as long as the eyes or longer.
Minor: yellow; occiput narrowed, with nuchal crest; posterior dorsal head surface sparsely foveolate; mesonotal convexity in side view subangulate.
measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.16, HL 1.18, SL 0.96, EL 0.20, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.76, SL 0.92, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.
color Major: concolorous yellowish brown, with a slightly contrasting small light brown spot on vertex; also, posterior strips of gastral tergites light brown.
Minor: concolorous dark yellow.
Range Known only from the type locality.
Biology Unknown.
figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: Las Salinas, near Restrepo, Meta (W. W. Lamar). Scale bars = 1 mm.