Pheidole viriosa Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole vinosa new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L viriosa, robust, strong.

diagnosis Similar in various traits to angulifera, nitidicollis, erratilis, gilva, polita (in the tristis group), schmalzi, and tambopatae, differing as follows. Major: head bicolored as illustrated; median ocellus present; humerus in dorsal-oblique view bearing a rightangular extension; occipital cleft very broad and moderately deep; propodeal spines directed strongly backward; postpetiole very narrow and oval from above; rear quarter of dorsal head surface smooth and shiny.

Minor: occiput somewhat narrowed, its margin weakly convex, and lacking nuchal collar; propodeal spines directed strongly backward; head almost completely smooth and shiny, with only a few faint carinulae at the antennal fossae; pilosity long, some hairs longer than Eye Length.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.74, HL 0.80, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.36. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.46, SL 0.40, EL 0.12, PW 0.30.

color Major: head bicolored, with vertex and frontal triangle medium brown and rest of head brownish yellow; tarsi brownish yellow; rest of body and appendages light brown.

Minor: head and gaster dark brown, tarsi brownish yellow, rest of body and appendages medium brown.

range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Sifted from litter on the floor of rainforest (P. S. Ward).

Figure Upper: holotype, major, with hind femur included. Lower: paratype, minor. ECUADOR: Jatun Sacha, 7 km east-southeast of Puerto Misahualli, Napo, 1A°04'S 37A°37 W (Philip S. Ward). Scale bars = 1 mm.