Pheidole daphne, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 404

Pheidole daphne new species

Types INBio.

Etymology Named after Daphne, the nymph in classical mythology who was changed into a laurel tree (reference to the arboricolous habits of the species).

diagnosis A medium-sized, distinctively bicolorous member of the flavens group, similar to the widespread species bilimeki , differing in the major by the laterally angulate (as opposed to spinose) postpetiolar node, limited shagreening on the first gastral tergite, and color (see below); and in the minor by the completely smooth and shiny first gastral tergite. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.90, HL 0.90, SL 0.50, EL 0.12, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.56, SL 0.46, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

color Major: head and appendages clear medium yellow, except for an ill-defined light brown circular spot in center of head

capsule dorsum; rest of body (mesosoma, waist, gaster) light brown.

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

Range The Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).

Biology Colonies of daphne are arboricolous, and as such have been collected by insecticidal fogging and Malaise trapping in lowland rainforest (Longino 1997).

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia, 50-150 m (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.