Pheidole aurivillii var. attenuata Santschi

Pheidole aurivillii Mayr variety attenuata Santschi Medje, [[soldier]], [[worker]]; Bafwabaka, [[soldier]], [[worker]] (Lang and Chapin); Walikale to Lubutu, [[worker]], [[worker]], [[queen]], "taken from a colony under bark of a fallen tree trunk" (J. Bequaert). I refer numerous specimens from these localities to Santschi's variety, because they are of very small size and dark color, the soldiers measuring only 3.5 to 4 mm., the workers 2 to 2.5 mm. The type of the species is considerably larger (soldier, 4.6 to 5 mm.; worker, 3 mm.). According to Santschi, the species varies much in stature and color. The females from Walikale measure 7 mm. and are dark brown, like the soldiers and workers, with dull yellowish brown wings. If I am correct in my interpretation, attenuata would more properly constitute a distinct subspecies.
Published as part of Wheeler, W. M., 1922, The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition., pp. 39-269 in Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45 on pages 129-130