Pheidole transversostriata

Pheidole transversostriata Mayr

Pheidole transversostriata Mayr 1887: 584. Syn.: Pheidole transversostriata var. nigridens Forel 1901 j: 362, n. syn.; Pheidole lacerta Wheeler 1922e: 6, n. syn. Possible synonym: Pheidole scalaris new species, this monograph. Raised to species level in this monograph and placed in the tachigaliae group: gibbata.

Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology L transversostriata, transversely lined, referring to the transverse carinulae of the major head.

Diagnosis A member of the transversostriata group distinguished in the major by the broad ladder-like array of transverse carinae that extend unbroken from the occiput to the frontal lobes where they curve anteriorly to the ends of the lobes. It is close to scalaris of Costa Rica, differing in the major in the lack of rugoreticulum on the occiput (completely reticulate in scalaris) and less elongate head (Head Length 1.2X Head Width versus Head Length 1.3X Head Width in scalaris), and in the minor by the completely foveolate sides of the pronotum (versus smooth and shiny in scalaris). However, a major syntype of transversostriata " var. nigridens " from Colombia has the corners of the occiput rugoreticulate and is thus intermediate between transversostriata and scalaris in this character. The two forms may prove to be geographic variants (or good species) when more material becomes available. Measurements (mm) Unique holotype major: HW 0.66, HL 0.80, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, PW 0.36. Minor (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands): HW 0.40, HL 0.44, SL 0.36, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

color Major: medium yellowish brown, with head a shade lighter and gaster a shade darker than mesosoma and waist. Minor: concolorous yellowish brown, legs clear yellow.

range P. transversostriata is evidently a wide-ranging but locally uncommon species, known from scattered records from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and Trinidad (Port of Spain) to the Guianas, Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, Brazil.

biology Forel (1901J) collected the species from soil in Colombia.

figure Upper: major (syntype of synonymous P. lacerta Wheeler, Port of Spain, Trinidad, compared with unique holotype of P. transversostriata). Lower: minor (Inner Brass, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, associated with major compared with transversostriata holotype). (Type locality: Guianas.) Scale bars = 1 mm.