Pheidole lattkei, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 314

Pheidole lattkei new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after the collector, the Venezuelan entomologist John Lattke.

diagnosis A member of the fallax group, most similar to haskinsorum , obscurior , petrensis , and susannae , distinguished as follows.

Major: tip of antennal scape fails to reach occipital corner by slightly more than 2X the maximum scape width; head in side and frontal views tapers narrowly toward occiput; occipital cleft deep, and subangular at nadir; posterior dorsum of head covered by dense, suberect, forward curving hairs of medium length; occiput smooth; in full-face view, central strip of cephalic dorsum longitudinally carinulate, and lateral thirds rugoreticulate; in dorsal-oblique view, humerus subangulate.

Minor: nuchal collar present, propodeal spines reduced to denticles.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.30, HL 1.48, SL 1.12, EL 0.20, PW 0.60.

Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.80, SL 1.18, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

Color Major: concolorous light reddish brown.

Minor: concolorous reddish yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. VENEZUELA: Cerro Humo via Las Melenas, 9.7 km northwest of Irapa, Sucre, KrW 62°37'W, 950 m (John Lattke). Scale bars = 1 mm.