Pheidole cordiceps Mayr

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 279

Pheidole cordiceps Mayr

Pheidole cordiceps Mayr 1868b: 174. Syn.: Pheidole cordiceps var. lilianae Forel 1912g: 232, n. syn.

Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology L cordiceps , heart-shaped head.

Diagnosis A medium-sized, yellow member of the fallax group, distinguished as follows:

Major: head heart-shaped; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; postpetiolar node seen from above roughly trapezoidal; mesonotal convexity prominent, and in dorsal-oblique view seeming to "lean" posteriorly; carinulae on frontal lobes restricted to lateral halves, and rest of cephalic sculpturing confined to the level of the eyes and capsule anterior to them.

Minor: occiput very broad, lacking nuchal collar; humerus angulate; sculpturing on head limited to anterior fourth of dorsal surface. Most similar to and possibly synonymous with dione .

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.44, HL 1.46, SL not measured, EL 0.22, PW 0.72.

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.86, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.

Color Major: medium yellow, gaster a slightly contrasting yellowish brown.

Minor: head and mesosoma reddish yellow, waist and gaster medium brown.

Range Argentina: widespread in the country, including Buenos Aires, Chabut, Cordoba, Mendoza, and Salta (Kempf 1972b).

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major (antennal scape drawn from an undamaged paralectotype major). Lower: paralectotype, minor. ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires (P. de Strobel). Scale bars = 1 mm.