Pheidole laudatana, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 715

Pheidole laudatana new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Name based on the type locality.

Diagnosis A member of the tristis group, and in particular the complex of West Indian species that include alayoi , bakeri , macromischoides , and naylae of Cuba, hispaniolae of the Dominican Republic, and godmani of St. Vincent, as well as their close relatives sabina of Mexico and prattorum of Costa Rica. Distinguished in the major and minor workers by a unique combination of traits in shape and sculpturing, especially in the head and mesonotum, size of the propodeal spine, overall pilosity, and other characters as shown.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.12, HL 1.18, SL 0.72,. EL 0.12, PW 0.58.

Paratype minor: HW 0.58, HL 0.64, SL 0.64, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

Color Major: body and mandibles light brown, other appendages yellow.

Minor: body light yellowish brown, mandibles and other appendages medium yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality in montane Dominica.

Biology The type series was collected in elfin forest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. DOMINICA, WEST INDIES: Morne Macaque, elfin forest on road to Fresh Water Lake, 1.5 km east of Laudat, about 800 m (M. E. and P. D. Perkins). Scale bars = 1 mm.