Pheidole hamtoni, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 296

Pheidole hamtoni new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after the collector, Robert J. Hamton.

Diagnosis A member of the fallax group, close to azteca but differing from it and other species of the group by the following combination of traits. Both major and minor brownish yellow.

Major: head capsule 1.14X longer than broad; hypostomum with 5 teeth; propodeal spine greatly reduced, to a rudimentary denticle; postpetiolar node from above short and bell-shaped; pilosity erect and very dense; rugoreticulum present between each eye and the nearby antennal fossa; carinulae mesad to the eye extend almost all the way to the occipital border. Minor: propodeal spines reduced to denticles; occiput narrowed slightly, with a nuchal collar. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.32, HL 1.50, SL 1.22, EL 0.22, PW 0.74. Paratype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.78, SL 1.02, EL 0.16, PW 0.44.

Color Major: body concolorous brownish yellow, except for gaster, which is a shade darker. Minor: concolorous brownish yellow.

Range Known from the type locality and from 8 km northwest of Tequila, Jalisco, 1220 m (R. J. Hamton).

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 10 km northwest of Ixtlan, Nayarit (Robert J. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.