Pheidole tenerescens Wheeler

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 520

Pheidole tenerescens Wheeler

Pheidole tenerescens Wheeler 1922e: 7.

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Presumably from L tener, soft, alluding to the relatively feeble sculpture.

Diagnosis As represented by the major, a small, yellow member of the flavens group with prominent, rounded humerus that rises well above the mesonotum in dorsal-oblique view; a nearly perfectly semicircular outline of promesonotum in side view; a deep, circular metanotal groove with vertical anterior propodeal face in dorsal-oblique view; short pilosity; and mostly smooth, shiny body. Similar to nitidicollis , but lacking a mesonotal convexity in side view, with shorter cephalic carinulae, smaller propodeal spiracle and spine, and yellow as opposed to medium brown gaster.

See also the less similar arhuaca , flavifrons , minutula , and other species listed as close to arhuaca (q.v.).

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.74, HL 0.80, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, PW 0.40.

Color Major: concolorous yellow.

range Known only from the holotype major.

biology Collected by sweeping vegetation (Roland Thaxter).

FIGURE Unique holotype, major. TRINIDAD: Port of Spain (Roland Thaxter). Scale bar = 1 mm.