Pheidole savegre, Longino, 2019

Longino, John T., 2019, Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest, Zootaxa 4599 (1), pp. 1-126 : 56-57

Pheidole savegre new species

( Plate 55 )

Pheidole JTL-278: morphospecies code previously used on AntWeb.

HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Costa Rica, San José: Ranchos Tinamu , 9.4889 -83.95586 ± 100m, 790m, 13- Jul-2015, montane wet forest, near streams, at bait (ADMAC, Ba-E- 08-2-03-11) [ MUCR, unique specimen identifier CASENT0646332] . PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [ MUCR]; Costa Rica, San José: 2km ESE Ranchos Tinamu , 9.48543 -83.93936 ± 100m, 490m, 10-Jul-2015, mature rainforest, edge of forest near pasture and agricultural land, steep rocky terrain, at bait (ADMAC, Ba-E- 07-3-04-14) [ CAS, MCZC, USNM]; same data except Ba-E- 07-3-04-01 [ JTLC] .

Geographic range. Costa Rica.

Diagnosis. Minor: face smooth and shining; head somewhat tapering posteriorly; occipital carina weakly developed; promesonotal groove present, distinctly impressed; lateral pronotum smooth and shiny; katepisternum uniformly foveate; propodeal spines long, similar in length to posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; abundant, coarse, dark, erect setae on mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum; color yellow. Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, in form of short points, in front of outer hypostomal teeth; scape base subterete, narrower than apical portion; face with irregular rugulae anteriorly, entire face with faint foveolate sculpture; promesonotal groove impressed; propodeal spines about half length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum faintly foveolate on anterior half; abundant, erect, flexuous setae on face, sides of head, mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.73, HL 0.95, SL 1.32, EL 0.19, WL 1.25, PSL 0.24, PTW 0.15, PPW 0.21, CI 77, SI 180, PSLI 33, PPI 142 (n=2).

Measurements, major worker: HW 1.61, HL 1.70, SL 1.38, EL 0.26, WL 1.69, PSL 0.23, PTW 0.28, PPW 0.40, CI 95, SI 86, PSLI 15, PPI 145 (n=2).

Biology. This species occurs in lowland to lower montane wet forest. Most collections are from ground baits. One worker is from a beating sample.

Comments. See comments under P. tinamu . The measurements and general habitus are very similar to P. musacolor from the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica. Pheidole savegre has coarser, darker setae, and the major has a more heavily sculptured face.

Etymology: From the type locality (Río Savegre area).

Figures

PLATE 55.