Pheidole alexeter ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr alexeter, guard, defender.

Diagnosis A very distinct member of the tristis ^HNS group distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: head short-rectangular; humerus very prominently lobose in dorsal-oblique view; mesonotal convexity prominent and symmetrical in side view; propodeal spines equilaterally triangular and directed perpendicular to basal propodeal face; postpetiole spinose from above; faint, shallow antennal scrobes present; posterior two-thirds of the dorsal surface of the head mostly covered by loose rugoreticulum; pronotal dorsum transversely carinulate and humeri bearing weak patches of rugoreticula.

Minor: occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; humeri with loose rugoreticula; most of body smooth and shiny.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.44, HL 1.54, SL 0.72, EL 0.16, PW 0.72. Paratype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.62, SL 0.66, EL 0.10, PW 0.40.

color Major: body, mandibles, and antennae rich medium reddish brown, legs dark yellow.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Collected in a savanna.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. BRAZIL: Vigia, near Belem, Para (William L. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.