Pheidole machetula Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole machetula new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr machetula, little warrior.

DIAGNOSIS A small member of the diligens group, similar to calimana, cataractae, demeter, scimitara, sicaria, and tenuis in various characters, differing as follows.

Major: small (HW 0.80 mm), with equilaterally triangular propodeal spines; antennal scape exceeds occipital corner by a little less than its own maximum width; head in full-face subrectangular, with nearly straight, parallel sides; carinulae on head do not extend posteriorly beyond eye level; in dorsal-oblique view, mesonotal convexity prominently lobose, its rounded apex directed posteriorly. Minor: propodeal spines equilaterally triangular; occiput narrowed but lacking nuchal collar. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.80, HL 0.86, SL 0.72, EL 0.18, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.56, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.30. COLOR Major: body concolorous medium brown, legs light brown.

Minor: very dark, almost blackish brown; in some but not all minors, the mandibles, trochanters, and tarsi are clear yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

BIOLOGY The type colony was found in a gap in mature rainforest, nesting in bare clay soil.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Scale bars = 1 mm.