Pheidole cahui, Longino, 2019

Longino, John T., 2019, Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest, Zootaxa 4599 (1), pp. 1-126 : 28-29

Pheidole cahui new species

( Plate 26 )

Pheidole JTL-188: morphospecies code previously used on AntWeb.

HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Guatemala, Petén: Cerro Cahuí , 16.99944 -89.70443 ± 24 m, 130 m, 24-May- 2009, moist forest, nest in soil (J. Longino, JTL6696) [ MCZC, unique specimen identifier CASENT0611056].

PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [ CAS, DZUP, JTLC, MCZC, USNM, UVGC] .

Geographic range. Guatemala.

Diagnosis. Minor: face smooth and shining; head rounded posteriorly to medially flattened posterior margin; occipital carina thin; promesonotal groove absent, promesonotum evenly convex; lateral pronotum smooth and shiny; katepisternum faintly foveolate with traces of superimposed rugulae; dorsal mesonotum and dorsal face of propodeum with a few transverse carinulae; propodeal spines absent; gaster smooth and shining; abundant flexuous erect setae on mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum; color orange. Major: inner hypostomal teeth stout, closely spaced; scape base subterete, narrower than apical portion; head subrectangular; antennal scrobe present, short, well-delimited and forming distinct dorsal concavity beneath frontal carina, scrobe surface smooth and shining; entire face (excluding scrobes) with irregular but largely longitudinal carinulae, interspaces smooth to faintly microsculptured; propodeal spines triangular, about one fifth length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum smooth; abundant, erect, flexuous setae on face, sides of head, mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.51, HL 0.57, SL 0.53, EL 0.12, WL 0.70, PSL 0.00, PTW 0.10, PPW 0.12, CI 90, SI 105, PSLI 0, PPI 130 (n=2).

Measurements, major worker: HW 1.30, HL 1.60, SL 0.59, EL 0.20, WL 1.25, PSL 0.07, PTW 0.27, PPW 0.47, CI 81, SI 45, PSLI 5, PPI 176 (n=2).

Measurements, queen: HW 1.23, HL 1.31, SL 0.63, EL 0.31, WL 1.79, PSL 0.08, PTW 0.41, PPW 0.71, CI 94, SI 51, PSLI 6, PPI 174 (n=1).

Biology. This species is known from one site, a reserve with somewhat seasonal moist forest. Minor and major workers recruit to ground baits. A nest was discovered by following workers from a nocturnal ground bait. The entrance was a simple hole in the soil beneath a leaf. An alate queen was collected in a beating sample.

Comments. The minor worker of this species is similar to P. hasticeps . The major is very different, with antennal scrobes and heavily sculptured face.

Etymology: From the type locality.

Figures

PLATE 26.