Pheidole nitidicollis Emery, 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 474

Pheidole nitidicollis Emery , new status

Pheidole nitidicollis Emery 1896g: 79. Pheidole dimidiata var. nitidicollis Emery 1896g: 79.

TYPES Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova

Etymology L nitidicollis , shiny neck, referring evidently to the smooth rear of head.

Diagnosis A small, yellow member of the flavens group whose major has a prominent, rounded humerus that rises well above the mesonotum in dorsal-oblique view, a roughly semicircular outline of promesonotum in side view, and an oval postpetiolar node. Similar to tenerescens but with the major possessing a low mesonotal convexity present (in side view), longer cephalic carinulae, larger propodeal spine and spiracle, and with a brown as opposed to yellow gaster.

See also the less similar arhuaca , flavifrons , minutula , other species listed as close to arhuaca , and members of the " flavens complex" listed under flavens (q.v.).

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.80, HL 0.84, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.40. Minor (Nevis): HW 0.42, HL 0.44, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.24. Color Major and minor: yellow.

range Described from Costa Rica by Emery, listed from Ceara, Brazil by Kempf (1972b), and identified by me from series collected on Nevis in the Lesser Antilles, as well as Kingston, Jamaica. Pheidole nitidicollis is thus widespread and may be transported (as to Nevis) by human commerce.

biology Unknown.

figure Upper: lectotype, major. COSTA RICA: Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula.

Lower: minor. Nevis, West Indies (Neal A. Weber), associated major compared with lectotype. Scale bars = 1 mm.