Pheidole erethizon Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole erethizon new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology NL erethizon, porcupine, referring to the very long, bristly pilosity of the major and minor.

Diagnosis A member of the crassicornis group characterized in both the major and minor by exceptionally dense, long hair (reaching an extreme in the gastral pilosity of the major); and entire head (except frontal triangle and central piece of clypeus), mesosoma, and waist foveolate and opaque. In addition, the minor is unusual within the crassicornis group in possessing a narrowed occiput seen in full-face view, yet nevertheless lacking a nuchal collar.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.34, SL 0.92, EL 0.22, PW 0.64.

Paratype minor: HW 0.58, HL 0.70, SL 0.86, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.

color Major: concolorous medium yellow with a very slight reddish tinge.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.

range Recorded from the type locality (Michoacan); Azizintla, Guerrero; and Miacatlan, Morelos.

biology Unknown.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: San Jose Purua, Michoacan (A. b. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.