Pheidole machaquila, Longino, 2019

Longino, John T., 2019, Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest, Zootaxa 4599 (1), pp. 1-126 : 45

Pheidole machaquila new species

( Plate 14 )

Pheidole JTL-193: morphospecies code previously used on AntWeb.

HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Guatemala, Petén: 13km NW Machaquilá , 16.44612 -89.54969 ± 59 m, 400 m, 29-May-2009, tropical moist forest, at bait (LLAMA, Ba-B- 06-4-04-17) [ MCZC, unique specimen identifier CASENT0614273] . PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [ CAS, DZUP, JTLC, MCZC, USNM, UVGC] .

Geographic range. Guatemala.

Diagnosis. Minor: face uniformly foveolate; promesonotal groove absent, promesonotum evenly convex; entire mesosoma foveolate; propodeal spines about two thirds length of posterior face of propodeum; gaster shagreened, matte; face, mesosomal dorsum, and gastral dorsum with sparse, short, erect setae; tibiae without erect setae; color orange yellow. Major: inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, blunt medial tooth also prominent; scape base terete; antennal scrobes very shallow, not sharply delimited; entire face foveolate, overlain with irregular, mostly longitudinal rugulae, these strongest anteriorly, fading posteriorly; propodeal spines about two thirds length of posterior face of propodeum; first gastral tergite entirely matte; abundant erect setae on sides of head, dorsal mesosoma, and gaster; tibiae lacking erect setae.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.45, HL 0.54, SL 0.62, EL 0.10, WL 0.62, PSL 0.09, PTW 0.08, PPW 0.12, CI 84, SI 136, PSLI 20, PPI 144 (n=2).

Measurements, major worker: HW 0.93, HL 1.01, SL 0.67, EL 0.12, WL 0.82, PSL 0.12, PTW 0.13, PPW 0.22, CI 92, SI 72, PSLI 13, PPI 173 (n=2).

Biology. This species is known from one site in the Petén region of Guatemala. It was an area with small patches of second growth moist forest on a karst landscape. The one collection was from a ground bait, with a strong recruitment of minor and major workers.

Comments. This species is similar to P. phanigaster . The minor worker differs in matte gaster (shiny in P. phanigaster ). The major worker differs in longer scapes (mean SI 72 vs. 61) and lighter orange color.

Etymology: From the type locality.

Figures

PLATE 14.