Pheidole perdiligens, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard University Press : 213

Pheidole perdiligens new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L perdiligens , more careful, diligent.

diagnosis A member of the diligens group close to anima , indistincta , piceonigra and tschinkeli , distinguished as follows. Major: antennal scape approaches occipital corner to within its own maximum width; propodeal spines half as long as the basal propodeal face anterior to them; rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa; eye proportionately large (Eye Length/Head Width 0.21); humerus rounded and pronotum weakly bilobous in dorsal-oblique view.

Minor: propodeal spines nearly half as long as basal propodeal face; pilosity of dorsal mesonotal profile composed of regularly spaced pairs of setae; occiput broad.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.94, SL 0.72, EL 0.20, PW 0.48. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.58, SL 0.72, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

Color Major: head and gaster light to medium reddish brown; mandibles, mesosoma, and waist yellowish brown; other appendages medium yellow.

Minor: head and gaster brownish yellow, rest of body and appendages medium yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality, and from San Bias, Panama.

Biology The type colony was found in a rotting branch on the floor of lowland rainforest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: Sirena, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula (Stefan Cover). Scale bars = 1 mm.