Pheidole musacolor, Longino, 2019

Longino, John T., 2019, Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest, Zootaxa 4599 (1), pp. 1-126 : 48

Pheidole musacolor new species

( Plate 55 )

Pheidole JTL-243: morphospecies code previously used on AntWeb.

HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Costa Rica, Limón: Cerro Plátano , 9.86621 -83.24203 ± 50m, 1110m, 19-Jun- 2015, cloud forest, along steep ridge near peak, at bait (ADMAC, Ba-E- 03-1-03-03) [ MUCR, unique specimen identifier CASENT0636691] . PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [ CAS, DZUP, JTLC, MCZC, USNM] .

Geographic range. Costa Rica.

Diagnosis. Minor: face smooth and shining; head evenly rounded posteriorly; occipital carina thin; promesonotal groove present, distinctly impressed; lateral pronotum smooth and shiny; katepisternum uniformly foveate; propodeal spines long, similar in length to posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; abundant, flexuous, erect setae on mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum; color yellow. Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, acicular; scape base subterete, narrower than apical portion; face with irregular, rugulose foveolate sculpture anteriorly, to about level of eyes, remainder of face smooth and shiny; promesonotal groove impressed; propodeal spines about half length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum smooth and shining; abundant, erect, flexuous setae on face, sides of head, mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.73, HL 0.87, SL 1.20, EL 0.19, WL 1.12, PSL 0.18, PTW 0.14, PPW 0.20, CI 85, SI 164, PSLI 25, PPI 140 (n=1).

Measurements, major worker: HW 1.52, HL 1.56, SL 1.18, EL 0.25, WL 1.42, PSL 0.18, PTW 0.26, PPW 0.35, CI 97, SI 77, PSLI 12, PPI 132 (n=1).

Biology. This species occurs in montane wet forest. It is known from two ground baits.

Comments. This species appears to be part of a complex of large, yellow species that occur in the mountains of southern Costa Rica. It is similar to the species P. familiaparra , P. savegre , and P. tinamu from the Pacific slope. It is most similar to P. savegre , differing in finer, lighter-colored pilosity, and the major worker has a smoother, less sculptured face. The minor worker of P. familiaparra has a more tapered posterior head and a more pronounced occipital carina. The minor worker of P. tinamu is not readily distinguishable, but the major worker of P. tinamu is distinctive, with strongly heart-shaped head and strongly produced promesonotum. See additional notes under P. tinamu .

Etymology: The color of a banana.

Figures

PLATE 55.