Pheidole gigaflavens, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 696

Pheidole gigaflavens new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Gr L gigaflavens , giant flavens , alluding to closeness to flavens group and large size.

diagnosis An unusual species that mixes traits of the tristis and flavens groups, and is tentatively placed in the former. Major: postpetiolar node from above very wide, bell-shaped; mesonotal convexity rudimentary; propodeal spine broad, and equilaterally triangular; petiolar node in side view tapered to a point; occiput narrower than anterior clypeal border; pilosity very sparse.

Minor: all of body except frontal triangle, mid-clypeus, and gaster foveolate and opaque; humerus subangulate in dorsaloblique view; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; petiolar node in side view tapered to a blunt point; pilosity very sparse. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.36, HL 1.46, SL 0.64, EL 0.20, PW 0.66. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.62, SL 0.58, EL 0.10, PW 0.34. color Major: body concolorous medium reddish brown, legs light reddish brown. Minor: body medium yellowish brown (head darker than rest), legs light yellowish brown.

Range Known from the type locality and Club Las Palmas, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Biology Unknown.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. ARGENTINA: Santiago del Estero (James C. Trager). Scale bars = 1 mm.