Pheidole dorsata, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 635

Pheidole dorsata new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L dorsata , of a ridge or back of a hill, referring to the peaked pronotum of the major in side view.

Diagnosis A member of the tachigaliae group, characterized by 11-segmented antennae, and distinguished within it as follows. Major: in side view, pronotal profile broken by a sharp obtuse angle; rugoreticula present mesad and laterad to eye; all of dorsum of head posterior to eye transversely carinulate except for antennal scrobes, which are smooth; humeri and anterior pronotal margin rugoreticulate; postpetiole from above very broad and narrowly elliptical in shape.

Minor: space between eyes and antennal fossae carinulate, foveolate, and opaque; rest of head smooth and shiny; in full-face view, a single, very long curving hair extends from each occipital corner; eye oval and set well forward on the head.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.68, HL 0.74, SL 0.30, EL 0.08, PW 0.44.

Paratype minor: HW 0.36, HL 0.40, SL 0.28, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

COLOR Major: body light brown, appendages yellowish brown.

Minor: body medium brown, appendages brownish yellow.

range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The type colony was found in a shaded coffee plantation.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: Finca El Recreo, Magdalena, 850 m (Charles Kugler). Scale bars = 1 mm.