Pheidole excubitor, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 687

Pheidole excubitor new species

Types INBio.

Etymology L excubitor , guard, sentinel.

Diagnosis A large, striking, bicolored member of the tristis group, with both major and minor possessing short, sparse, erect pilosity and a prominent humerus that rises far above the relatively flat promesonotum in dorsal-oblique view. Mesonotal convexity greatly reduced in major and absent in minor. In both castes, postpetiolar node seen from above bell-shaped, and prominent rounded postpetiolar process present.

Similar to alpinensis , exarata , germaini , grandinodus , grantae , obrima , rogeri , severini , stulta , tristis , and zoster , differing in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity as illustrated, and in color. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.56, HL 1.74, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.80. Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.76, EL 0.16, PW 0.46.

Color Major: waist and gaster blackish brown, contrasting with the yellowish red of the remainder of the body; appendages a darker shade of reddish yellow.

Minor: gaster medium brown, contrasting with the reddish yellow of the rest of the body and appendages.

Range Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica (J. T. Longino 1997).

Biology Colonies nest beneath epiphytes in lowland rainforest (Longino 1997).

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Pueblo Nuevo, Heredia, 150 m (John T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.