Pheidole boltoni ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Named in honor of the distinguished British ant systematist Barry Bolton.

diagnosis A small, bicolorous species belonging to an ambiguous cluster composing the " carapuna ^HNS complex" ( boltoni ^HNS, carapuna ^HNS, cornicula ^HNS, cuprina ^HNS, eriophora ^HNS, jivaro ^HNS, manuana ^HNS, tristicula ^HNS) close to the flavens ^HNS group. All are relatively small in size, with the major possessing a reduced mesonotal convexity and cephalic sculpturing, composed in turn entirely of longitudinal carinulae that extend to or close to the occipital border viewed in full face. All also have a minor with a broad, concave occiput, which lacks a nuchal collar. Among these species, P. boltoni ^HNS is distinguished as follows.

Major: relatively flat profile of the promesonotum in dorsal-oblique view; eye set well forward so that its anterior margin is the same distance from the anterior genal border as the Eye Length; small, obtuse-angulate mesonotal convexity; and smooth, shiny occiput, postpetiolar node, and first gastral tergite.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.06, HL 1.06, SL 0.62, EL 0.18, PW 0.48. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.60, SL 0.60, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

color Major: head dark reddish yellow, rest of body light reddish brown, legs dark yellow. Minor: concolorous dark yellow.

Range Known from only two collections at the type locality.

biology Found by Longino (1997) nesting in epiphyte clumps in wet forest.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: 8 km north of Volcano Barba, Heredia, lO0^^ r^Oew, 1830 m (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.