Pheidole schmalzi Emery ^HNS, new status

Pheidole dimidiata var. schmalzi Emery ^HNS 1894d: 161. Syn.: Pheidole rehi ^HNS Forel 1900h: 285, n. syn. Pheidole rata ^HNS Borgmeier 1929: 206, n. syn.

Types Lectotype and paralectotype of schmalzi ^HNS: Mus. Civ. Hist. Nat. Genova.

Etymology Named after the collector "Signor Schmalz."

diagnosis A medium-sized reddish yellow to brown member of the flavens ^HNS group; both major and minor are immediately recognizable by the large, "sharkfin" shape of the humerus in dorsal-oblique view, meaning that the anterior margin is straight and the posterior margin convex in profile, tipped with an acute or right angle. Very similar to angulifera ^HNS, and in varying degree also to arhuaca ^HNS, caulicola ^HNS, chalca ^HNS, chalcoides ^HNS, mincana ^HNS, sagana ^HNS, tambopatae ^HNS, and tragica ^HNS in overall appearance but distinctive in the humeral shape and other traits in body shape, sculpture, pilosity, and color.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.94, SL 0.46, EL 0.10, PW 0.48. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.54, SL 0.58, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

color Lectotype major of schmalzi ^HNS: body and appendages light brown, waist and gaster dark brown ( rehi ^HNS syntype major is yellowish brown; rata ^HNS syntype major is light reddish yellow).

Paralectotype minors of schmalzi ^HNS: body light to medium brown, appendages light brown.

Syntype minors of synonymous rehi ^HNS and rata ^HNS: light brown.

Range Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bolivia; Venezuela.

Biology Unknown.

figure Upper: major (syntype of synonymous P. rata ^HNS Borgmeier). Lower: minor (syntype of synonymous P. rata ^HNS Borgmeier). BRAZIL: Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, type locality of synonymous P. rata ^HNS. (Type locality of schmalzi ^HNS: Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil.) Scale bars = 1 mm.