Pheidole laselva, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 442

Pheidole laselva new species

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after the type locality.

diagnosis Close to and possibly synonymous with ebenina , also similar in various traits to albipes , amabilis , alticola , browni , crinita , delicata , euryscopa , hedlundorum , lustrata , mallota , melastomae , monteverdensis , and tillandsiarum , differing as follows. Major: carinulae on dorsal surface of head covering only half to two-thirds the anterior dorsal surface of the head; remainder of head, all of mesosoma, and dorsum of waist smooth and shiny; eye set well forward on head, so that the anterior margin is only about an Eye Length from the anterior genal margin; promesonotal profde a single smooth curve; propodeal spine small, equilaterally triangular; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angular lateral margins.

Minor: eye large, set well forward on the head; head and body almost completely smooth and shiny; propodeal

pine small, equilaterally triangular; occiput broad, moderately concave.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.72, HL 0.80, SL 0.40, EL 0.10, PW 0.38.

Paratype minor: HW 0.38, HL 0.42, SL 0.36, EL 0.08, PW 0.26.

color Major: body and antennal scape concolorous medium brown; legs medium yellow; other appendages brownish yellow. Minor: body and appendages brownish yellow ("tan") except for gaster, which is medium brown.

Range Widespread over the Atlantic lowlands and mid-Atlantic slopes of Costa Rica (Longino 1997). I have also seen material from Providencia and Valle, Colombia; Aragua, Venezuela; and Guayas, Ecuador.

Biology An inhabitant of litter on the floor of mature rainforest. Nests have been found in rotting logs and other pieces of dead wood (Longino 1997), as well in soil (S. Cover). Winged reproductives have been found in nests at the La Selva Biological Station in January and March, and in Ecuador in late July.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia (Stefan Cover). Scale bars = 1 mm.