Pheidole olsoni, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 478

Pheidole olsoni new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after the collector David Olson.

Diagnosis Known only from the major, easily distinguished by its very small size, elongated head, bicolorous body, protuberant frontal lobe in side view, small propodeal spine, cornulate postpetiole, and unusual pattern of the rugulae mesad to the eye, which travel downward (anteriorly) from the eye obliquely mesad to meet the circular carinulae of the antennal fossae. Similar to browni , casta , mera , prolixa , and protensa , but easily separated by the above listed traits. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.54, HL 0.74, SL 0.30, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

color Major: head, dorsum of alitrunk, petiolar node, and all of postpetiole medium brown; rest of body and all of appendages medium yellow.

range Known from the type locality and from El Volcan, Chiriqui, Panama, 1280 m (L. Hare).

biology The holotype was collected in rainforest at a tuna bait; the Chiriqui, Panama, specimens were found in a log. Males were present in the latter colony on 18 August.

figure Holotype, major. COSTA RICA: Refugio de Eladio, Penas Blancas Valley, Alajuela, 780 m (David Olson). Scale bar = 1 mm.