Pheidole zoster ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr zoster ^HNS, belt, girdle, referring to the broad postpetiole.

Diagnosis A large, bicolorous (major) or reddish yellow (minor) member of the tristis ^HNS group whose major has a very large ovalangulate postpetiolar node, prominent subpostpetiolar convexity, dense parallel transverse carinulae covering all of the promesonotum, and completely foveolate and opaque dorsal head surface and first gastral tergite.

Minor: with large, somewhat elongated bell-shaped postpetiole; subpostpetiolar process; short, erect propodeal spines, and completely foveolate and opaque dorsal head surface and first gastral tergite.

Similar to alpinensis ^HNS, exarata ^HNS, excubitor ^HNS, germaini ^HNS, grandinodus ^HNS, grantae ^HNS, obrima ^HNS, rogeri ^HNS, stulta ^HNS, and tristis ^HNS, differing in many details

of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity, as illustrated, and in color.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.64, HL 1.82, SL 0.82, EL 0.20, PW 0.88.

Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.68, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

color Major: head, mesosoma, and petiole reddish yellow; mandibles medium brown; postpetiole and gaster light brown; legs and antennae dark yellow. Minor: reddish yellow

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The nest contained a seed cache and males 9-12 March.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Tingo Maria (William L. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.