Pheidole aenescens, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 261

Pheidole aenescens new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology L aenescens , bronze-like, referring to the body color.

diagnosis A medium-sized light reddish brown ("coppery") member of the fallax group similar to the species listed in the heading above, distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: head heart-shaped with extensive, wide-celled rugoreticulum ranging from mesad to the eyes and laterad from the frontal lobes posteriorly to the occiput along the midline, but with the occipital lobes remaining smooth and shiny; pilosity long and very dense over the entire dorsal surface of the body. Minor: occiput narrowed, with narrow nuchal collar.

In both major and minor the scapes are covered with long, erect and suberect hairs, not illustrated. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.06, HL 1.14, SL 0.94, EL 0.20, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.70, SL 0.90, EL 0.16, PW 0.40.

color Major: antennae and body rich light reddish brown ("coppery") except for the gaster, which is plain brown; legs yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. BRAZIL: Utinga Tract, near Belem, Para (P. F. Darlington). Scale bars = 1 mm.