Pheidole chilensis Mayr

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, pp. 163-216 : 179

Pheidole chilensis Mayr

Pheidole chilensis Mayr 1862: 748.

Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology Named after the country of origin.

diagnosis An unusual species, placed in the diligens group but also reminiscent of teneriffana, an exotic native to Mediterranean area. P. chilensis may also prove to be an exotic.

Major: lacking the 4-lobed profde and broad, convex metanotum of teneriffana ; dorsal surface of the head covered by carinulae except for frontal triangle and midclypeus; carinulae originating on the frontal lobes spread outward as they approach the occiput and then travel back to return to the anterior part of the head in parallel; antennal scrobes present; anterior midclypeal margin excavated; postpetiole from above conulate; all of promesonotum transversely carinulate.

Minor: occiput narrowed and with nuchal collar; postpetiole from above diamond-shaped.

Both castes have abundant, erect hairs on the antennal scapes.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.48, SL 0.94, EL 0.22, PW 0.62 (may be distorted by pin through pronotum).

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.76, SL 0.94, EL 0.14, PW 0.40. color Major: body light reddish yellow, gaster light yellowish brown. Minor: concolorous yellow.

Majors and minors collected in Lima in 1961 are medium reddish brown.

range Known from the type collection from Chile; I have further compared a 1961 series from Lima, Peru, with the Mayr types.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. CHILE: no further data. Scale bars = 1 mm.