Pheidole carapunco Kusnezov

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 389

Pheidole carapunco Kusnezov

Pheidole carapunco Kusnezov 1952d: 82.

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard; Inst. Miguel Lillo, Tucuman.

Etymology Named after the type locality.

Diagnosis Placed tentatively in the flavens group, but with a habitus intermediate to that of the tristis group.

Major: large (for flavens group); carinulae originating on anterior margin of the eye spread forward from one another in traveling to the genal border; a broad, continuous band of rugoreticulum extends from the inner margin of one eye to that of the other across the vertex. The true characteristics of this species will remain problematic until fresh material is collected.

measurements (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.20, HL 1.24, SL 0.62, EL 0.20, PW 0.54.

Minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.60, SL 0.48, EL 0.10, PW 0.14.

Color Major: concolorous medium reddish brown.

Minor: head and gaster yellowish brown; mesosoma, waist, and appendages dark yellow.

range A temperate montane Argentine species, known only from Salta and Tucuman.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: syntype, major (a composite from 2 damaged specimens; Carapunco, between Tafi de Valle and Infiernillos, Tucuman, 2600 m, N. Kusnezov). Lower: minor (El Rey, Salta, 2200 m, N. Kusnezov). The major syntype is partly decayed, and may have lost most of its pilosity. The El Rey minor is undecayed, and the pilosity appears intact. Scale bars = 1 mm.