Pheidole rectitrudis, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 496

Pheidole rectitrudis new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L rectitrudis, erect pike or pointed pole, alluding to propodeal spines.

diagnosis Similar to bilimeki , floridana , hazenae , rectiluma , rectisentis , rectispina , sospes , and stomachosa , differing as follows. Major: propodeal spines robust, half as long as propodeal basal face, vertical to propodeum; frontal lobes, vertex, and dorsal midline strip to occiput carinulate and rugulose; occipital lobes smooth with scattered foveae; sides of head rugoreticulate; humeri longitudinally rugulose, and promesonotal dorsum transversely carinulate; postpetiole from above conulate.

Minor: all of dorsal surface of head from eye level to occiput rugoreticulate, as well as all of promesonotal dorsum; propodeal spines long, robust, and vertical to propodeal basal face.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.90, HL 0.98, SL 0.48, EL 0.12, PW 0.48. Paratype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.54, SL 0.44, EL 0.08, PW 0.32.

Color Major: body, scape, and mandibles dark, almost blackish brown; legs and funiculus medium brown. Minor: head, mesosoma, petiole, and appendages medium brown; postpetiole and gaster dark brown.

Range Known from the type locality and from Penas Blancas Valley, Costa Rica (J. T. Longino 1997); and near San Andres Tuxtla (1500 m) and Orizaba (1600 m), Mexico (P. S. Ward).

biology Evidently uncommon. The type colony was collected by Stefan Cover in the soil of lowland rainforest beneath a log. The Mexican colonies were found in cloud forest.

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