Pheidole gaigei

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 692

Pheidole gaigei Forel

Pheidole gaigei Forel 1914c: 616.

Types Mus. Hist. Nat. Geneve; Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Eponymous.

diagnosis A member of the tristis group, similar to balzani , godmani , grandinodus , huilana , obrima , and, less so, to species listed with them, distinguished as follows.

Major: postpetiole from above bell-shaped, 2X broader than petiole; postpetiole with prominent ventral, forward-projecting subangular process; anterior third of pronotal dorsum and all of mesopleuron carinulate; carinulae on dorsal surface of head reach midway between eye and occipital border.

Minor: occiput very broad, lacking nuchal collar; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; margins all around of pronotal dorsum, as well as lower half of mesopleuron, carinulate.

Measurements (mm) Syntype major: HW 1.28, HL 1.38, SL 0.72, EL 0.08, PW 0.62.

Syntype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.72, SL 0.66, EL 0.12, PW 0.44.

Color Major: concolorous light reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous brownish yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: syntype, major. Lower: syntype, minor. COLOMBIA: Mt. San Lorenzo, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, 1700 m. Scale bars = 1 mm.