Pheidole chocoensis Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole chocoensis new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Named after the region of the type locality.

diagnosis A small, yellow member of the fallax group similar to araneoides and wallacei, and easily distinguished as follows. Major: extensive rugoreticulation covers the space between the eye to the frontal carinae and circular carinulae of the antennal fossae; head roughly quadrate, occiput deep; antennal scapes fall short of the occipital lobes by 2X the scapes' maximal width; mesopleuron and dorsal face of propodeum carinulae; pilosity dense and very long.

Minor: neck and nuchal collar well-developed; basal face of propodeum drops vertically in front to metanotum; mesopleuron carinulate.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.24, SL 1.00, EL 0.20, PW 0.62. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.66, SL 0.98, EL 0.14, PW 0.34. Color Major: concolorous medium reddish yellow. Minor: concolorous medium yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The type series was collected from a forested mountain slope. A winged queen was present 1-4 June.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: Finca Los Guaduales, 10 km southwest of Jose del Palmar, Rio Torito, Choco, 760 m (Charles Kugler). Scale bars = 1 mm.