Pheidole simonsi, Wilson, 2003

Longino, John T., 2019, Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest, Zootaxa 4599 (1), pp. 1-126 : 59

Pheidole simonsi

Pheidole simonsi Wilson, 2003: 630 , figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Costa Rica, Heredia: La Selva Biological Station (Stefan Cover) [MCZC] (examined).

Pheidole arctos Wilson, 2003: 623 , figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Mexico, Tamaulipas: Gomez Fariás, 400–600 m (Cornell University Mexico Field Party , 1964) [MCZC] (examined). New Synonym.

Pheidole gangamon Wilson, 2003: 626 , figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Mexico, Veracruz: Pueblo Nuevo, near Tetzonapa (E. O. Wilson) [MCZC] (examined). New Synonym.

Pheidole thrasys Wilson, 2003: 631 , figs. Holotype minor worker: Panama, Colón: Barro Colorado Island (William L. Brown and Elwood S. McCluskey) [MCZC] (examined). New Synonym.

Comments. Wilson (2003) named four species from Mexico and Central America that are all extremely similar and together form a very distinctive group with no similar species in the region. They are P. arctos from Tamaulipas, Mexico; P. gangamon from Veracruz, Mexico; P. simonsi from Costa Rica; and P. thrasys from Panama. The four taxa together clearly form a clade that is common in lowland wet forest throughout Central America and southern Mexico, exhibiting uniform habitat preference, behavior, and nesting habits. Minor workers are nearly uniform across the range. Major workers show some geographic variation, with southern versions having longer, thinner propodeal spines and longer dorsal pilosity. Specimens from Guatemala northward have shorter propodeal spines and are more bristly-looking, with shorter dorsal pilosity. DNA barcoding data are all from the southern populations and show two clusters. One has numerous Panama specimens and one specimen from Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Another cluster has numerous specimens from Guanacaste and many specimens from the Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and southern Honduras. Cryptic species may emerge with further study, but at present there are no known morphological discontinuities at any one site or anywhere across the range of the clade.