Pheidole macrops, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 583

Pheidole macrops new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Gr macrops , large-eyed.

Diagnosis A member of the " bicarinata complex" of the larger pilifera group, comprising agricola , aurea , barbata , bicarinata , centeotl , cerebrosior , defecta , gilvescens , macclendoni , macrops , marcidula , paiute , pinealis , vinelandica , xerophila , yaqui , and yucatana ( macrops is closet to yaqui ), which complex is characterized by the large to very large, forward-set eyes of both castes; and, in the major, the occipital lobes usually lacking any sculpturing; the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally angular (cornulate in cerebrosior ). P. macrops is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: reddish brown; sides of pronotum longitudinally carinulate; posterior half of dorsum of head sprinkled with sparse foveae; propodeum spines relatively long and thin; apex of petiolar node in side view evenly rounded; postpetiolar node from above oval. Minor: dorsal margin of petiolar node seen from behind rises to a peak; propodeal spines vertical. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.30, SL 0.60, EL 0.22, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.56, SL 0.46, EL 0.16, PW 0.30. color Major: concolorous medium reddish brown, tarsi yellow.

Minor: body and mandibles blackish brown to black, legs and antennae medium to dark brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

biology The type colony was collected from a ground nest in sandy desert (Philip S. Ward).

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 4 km south-southeast of Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur (Philip S. Ward). Scale bars = 1 mm.