Pheidole fullerae, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 691

Pheidole fullerae new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after Kathryn Fuller, President of World Wildlife Fund-U. S. and champion of tropical biodiversity.

diagnosis Similar in various respects to the species listed in the heading above, differing as follows from these and other tristisgroup species.

Major: antennal lobes project forward and downward as prominent lobes, in side view; shallow antennal scrobes present, each with a small patch of rugoreticulum behind it; almost all of the remaining surface of the head, up to and including the occiput, carinulate; humeri in dorsal-oblique view very prominent, lobose, and 2X higher than mesonotal convexity relative to the metanotal groove; corners of humeri rugoreticulate; postpetiole from above elliptical.

Minor: entire body almost completely smooth and shiny; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; promesonotal central half flat in side view; occiput narrow with a nuchal collar.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.44, HL 1.44, SL 0.72, EL 0.16, PW 0.72. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.58, SL 0.64, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

Color Major: mandibles dark reddish brown, body medium reddish brown, other appendages light reddish brown. Minor: body medium reddish brown, appendages dark brownish yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The type colony was found nesting in a very small dead stick at the edge of a forest stream; the nest contained a seed cache.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. ECUADOR: Sucua, 16 km south of Macas, 2°28'S 78°10"W (Gary Umphrey). Scale bars = 1 mm.