Pheidole obrima ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr obrima ^HNS, strong, mighty, alluding to large, robust bodies of both castes.

Diagnosis A large, brown member of the tristis ^HNS group with yellow appendages, relatively short propodeal spines, bell-shaped postpetiolar node, prominent convex subpostpetiolar process, and overall weak sculpturing comprising scattered patches of carinulae and foveolae. Similar to alpinensis ^HNS, excubitor ^HNS, exarata ^HNS, gaigei ^HNS, germaini ^HNS, godmani ^HNS, grandinodus ^HNS, grantae ^HNS, rogeri ^HNS, severini ^HNS, stulta ^HNS, tristis ^HNS, and zoster ^HNS, differing in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity, as illustrated, and in color.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.68, HL 1.86, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.82.

Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.74, EL 0.12, PW 0.46.

Color Major: body medium reddish yellow, appendages reddish yellow.

Minor: head medium brown, rest of body yellowish brown, appendages light yellowish brown to dark yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. VENEZUELA: Rancho Grande, 1100 m (R. W. Poole). Scale bars = 1 mm.