Pheidole cuprina, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 678

Pheidole cuprina new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L cuprina , of copper, referring to the color.

Diagnosis A small, reddish yellow species belonging to a group of ambiguous species composing the " carapuna complex" (see list in heading above), close to the flavens group and possibly better placed there. All are relatively small in size, with the major possessing a reduced mesonotal convexity, as well as cephalic sculpturing that consists entirely of longitudinal carinulae extending to or almost to the occipital border seen in full face. All also have a minor with a broad, concave occiput, which lacks a collar. Among these species, P. cuprina is close to carapuna but distinguished from it by color and the absence of foveolation on the postpetiolar node of the major and posterior three-fourths of the dorsal head surface of the minor. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.02, HL 1.16, SL 0.58, EL 0.16, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.66, SL 0.56, EL 0.12, PW 0.38. color Major and minor: concolorous medium yellow, with slight reddish tinge.

Range I have seen an additional series of cuprina from Tingo Maria, Madre de Dios, Peru, collected by W. L. Brown.

biology The type colony was found in terra firme forest nesting in a rotten branch on the litter surface of the ground. It comprised a

single queen and several hundred workers (Stefan Cover, personal communication).

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 200 m (Stefan Cover). Scale bars = 1 mm.