Pheidole sabella, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 500

Pheidole sabella new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L sabella, dim. of sabulum, sand, referring to the nest site.

Diagnosis Known only from the major. A medium-sized reddish yellow member of the flavens group, most similar to kuna of Panama, including the possession of shallow antennal scrobes, a well-developed mesonotal convexity, and parallel longitudinal carinulae that extend over the entire dorsum of the head to near the occiput. Departs from kuna in the different shape of the mesonotal convexity in side view, the larger propodeal spines, the presence of a rugoreticulum mesad to the eyes, and a contrasting brown spot - near the center of the head capsule.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.86, HL 0.92, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.42.

color Major: body and mandibles reddish yellow, legs and antennae plain yellow; head with a medium brown spot just behind the center of the cephalic dorsum midline, as illustrated.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Collected from leaf litter on the sandy soil of the forest floor.

Figure Holotype, major. PERU: near Lake Sandoval, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, 260 m (Charles Kugler and R. R. Lampert). Scale bar = 1 mm.