Pheidole styrax, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 513

Pheidole styrax new species

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr styrax , point at the butt end of a spear, referring to narrow petiolar node of the major.

Diagnosis A medium-large, brown member of the flavens group whose major is distinguished by the unusual bidentate anterior margin of the clypeus; heart-shaped frontal profile of the head; completely carinulate clypeus; shallow antennal fossa; high, subangulate pronotal humerus in dorsal-oblique view; angulate mesonotal convexity and deep, semicircular metanotal groove; and narrow petiolar node in side view.

Similar to bidens in possession of a bidentate clypeus and general habitus but differing in presence of an antennal scrobe and many other details of body form, sculpturing, pilosity, and color, as shown and described (q.v.). See also the less similar moffetti , nasutoides , and tennantae .

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.12, SL 0.58, EL 0.14, PW 0.52.

Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.62, SL 0.54, EL 0.12, PW 0.38.

Color Major: body and mandibles medium brown, other appendages yellowish brown.

Minor: body light brown, appendages brownish yellow.

Range Known only from the type series.

Biology Unknown.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. VENEZUELA: Rio Negro Tachira, 550 m (John Lattke). Scale bars = 1 mm.