Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Wilson, E. O. 4FYHX urn:lsid:biosci.ohio-state.edu:osuc_concepts:33928 Emery Insecta Formicidae Pheidole Animalia Pheidole piceonigra Emery Hymenoptera 216 Arthropoda species piceonigra  Etymology L piceonigra, pitch-black plus black.  Diagnosis Close to indistinctaof Costa Rica, considered by Longino (1997) to belong with it in a single, very variable species. The types, however, are very different, with those of piceonigradistinguished as follows.  Major: piceonigrawith much less abundant pilosity than indistincta; rugoreticulation between eye and antennal fossa; color much darker (see Color below), and head concolorous, not bicolorous as in indistincta; posterior side of head with bands of foveolae; humerus in dorsal-oblique view rounded; apex of postpetiole in side view more rounded. Minor: occiput and posterior sides of head foveolate, not smooth as in indistincta; much less pilose than indistincta; color much lighter. If continuous intergrades are demonstrated between the two forms, they may be joined; otherwise it is more prudent to distinguish them as species. Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.06, HL 1.04, SL 0.76, EL 0.20, PW 0.54. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.70, SL 0.80, EL 0.14, PW 0.40. Color Major: body dark brown, gaster almost black. Minor: head, mesosoma, and waist dark reddish brown; propodeum and gaster blackish brown; appendages medium brown.  Range I have seen series from Chiapas, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz in Mexico, at 1070-2200 m, and from Costa Rica. On the basis of the types, I am considering this species as different from indistincta, which also occurs in Costa Rica.  Biology Longino's notes (1997) on the distribution and natural history of " indistincta" may apply to that species, to piceonigra, or to both. I found a large, undoubted piceonigracolony nesting at the base of an ornamental shrub in a much disturbed San Jose city park. In Tamaulipas, the Cornell University Mexico Field Party of 1965 encountered it at 1070 m in tall cloud forest.  Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. MEXICO (no further data). Scale bars = 1 mm.