Pheidole gradifer ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L gradifer ^HNS, step-bearing, with reference to the step-like posterior descent.

Diagnosis Unique within the punctatissima ^HNS group in the absence of a mesonotal convexity in the major and the manner in which the promesonotum descends almost vertically in side view to the metanotum. In addition, the major has almost no pilosity on the mesosoma or waist; carinulae are present only on the anterior half of the dorsal head surface, but the entire rest of the head, mesosoma, waist, and gastral tergites are foveolate and opaque.

Minor: mesosoma trilobous in dorsal-oblique view; carinulae limited to anterior third of dorsal head surface, but all of head, mesosoma, waist, and central strip of first gastral tergite are foveolate and opaque.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.92, HL 1.00, SL 0.64, EL 0.16, PW 0.50.

Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.64, SL 0.78, EL 0.14, PW 0.38.

Color Major: concolorous light reddish yellow ("orange").

Minor: dark yellow.

RANGE Known only from the type locality.

biology The type series was collected in tropical dry forest (David Olson).

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: 1 km east of station, Santa Rosa National Park, 280 m (David Olson). Scale bars = 1 mm.