Pheidole galba, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 292

Pheidole galba new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L galba, yellow.

diagnosis A member of the fallax group, close to huacana and oliveirai and distinguished as follows.

Major: yellow; rugoreticulum on each side of the head reaches from the anterior border of the head capsule to a third of the way from eye level to occiput level; at the posterior end the rugoreticula give way to short carinulae that travel obliquely backward toward the sides of the head; rear half of posterior venter of head smooth; posterior third of dorsal surface of head mostly smooth but sprinkled with foveae; vertex rugulose and carinulate; propodeal spines well developed; postpetiolar dorsum smooth. Minor: propodeal spines well developed; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.82, HL 1.92, SL 1.02, EL 0.26, PW 0.84. Paratype minor: HW 0.72, HL 0.84, SL 1.04, EL 0.18, PW 0.50. Color Major: light reddish yellow. Minor: clear medium yellow.

range Known only from the type locality and the Cocha Cashu Biological Station, Manu National Park; also in Madre de Dios, Peru.

biology Two colonies collected at Cuzco Amazonico were nesting in clay soil of terra firme forest. One of the nests was surmounted by a castle-like superstructure of soil particles.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Scale bars = 1 mm.