Pheidole minutula

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 458

Pheidole minutula Mayr

Pheidole minutula Mayr 1878: 872. Syn.: Pheidole minutula r. folicola Forel 1904f: 681, n. syn. [Not seen: types of Pheidole minutula var. personata Santschi 1929d: 291.]

Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology L minutula , very small.

diagnosis A very small, yellow species, found in the myrmecophyte Maieta, distinguished in the major by the relatively high, subangulate humerus seen in dorsal-oblique view, the extrusion of the humeral angles slightly beyond the lower part of the pronotum beneath when seen from above, and the parallel longitudinal carinulae covering the anterior half of the head capsule; and in both castes by the mostly smooth and shiny body surface.

Similar to nitidicollis and tenerescens but distinguished by its flatter promesonotal profile, much shallower occiput in full-face view, and absence of transverse carinulae on the anterior pronotal dorsum. See also the less similar arhuaca , flavifrons , and other species listed as close to arhuaca ; and compare the queen to the small, possibly parasitic microgyna .

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.76, HL 0.86, SL 0.42, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.38, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

Color Major: body concolorous yellow; gaster, antennae, and legs a shade lighter.

Minor: concolorous yellow.

Range Widespread from Panama and the Guianas to Amazonian Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.

Biology Colonies were found at Belem by Joseph Bequaert and near Manaus by myself in the swollen leaf bases of the melastome understory shrub Maieta guianensis. The species was abundant where I collected it from the swollen leaf bases of Maieta guianensis (Wilson 1984b). I was able to keep colonies alive and growing in artificial nests away from the melastomes. P. minutula may be the host of another species, P. microgyna , but the status of this form is problematic (Wilson 1984b). Winged queens have been found in nests from July to September.

FIGURE Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. BRAZIL: Amazonas (James Trail). Scale bars = 1 mm.