Pheidole celaena ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr celaena ^HNS, dark, referring to the body color.

diagnosis A medium-sized dark member of the tristis ^HNS group, very close to and possibly synonymous with cornicula ^HNS, also somewhat similar to ambigua ^HNS, amata ^HNS, fera ^HNS, germaini ^HNS, peruviana ^HNS, rogeri ^HNS, rutilana ^HNS, schwarzmaieri ^HNS, superba ^HNS, and vomer ^HNS, differing as follows.

Major: medium to dark reddish brown; a low angular process protrudes from center of clypeus in side view; mid-dorsal profile of pronotum in side view subangular; petiolar node tapers to a blunt point in side view; postpetiolar node from above roughly trapezoidal; carinulae originating on frontal lobes curve outward to the rear.

Minor: petiolar and postpetiolar nodes very low; humerus in dorsal-oblique view with small denticle; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; nuchal collar present.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.66, SL 0.80, EL 0.16, PW 0.64. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.68, SL 0.82, EL 0.10, PW 0.38.

color Major: head and mesosoma dark reddish brown, waist medium reddish brown, gaster light to medium brown, legs yellowish brown.

Minor: body concolorous plain brown; tarsi yellow; rest of appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known from the type locality in Costa Rica and from Kukra Hill, Nicaragua.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia (Leeanne E. Tennant-Alonso). Scale bars = 1 mm.