Pheidole xiloa, Longino, 2019

Longino, John T., 2019, Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American Wet Forest, Zootaxa 4599 (1), pp. 1-126 : 64

Pheidole xiloa new species

( Plate 8 )

Pheidole JTL-212: morphospecies code previously used on AntWeb.

HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Nicaragua, Managua: Laguna Xiloá , 12.22644 -86.31104 ± 50 m, 90 m, 28-Apr- 2011, 2nd growth dry forest, ex sifted litter (Davis sifter) (J.Longino, JTL7429-s) [ MCZC, unique specimen identifier CASENT0619635] . PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [ CAS, DZUP, JTLC, MCZC, USNM] ; same data except at bait (J.Longino, JTL7430-s) [ JTLC] .

Geographic range. Nicaragua.

Diagnosis. Minor: face and mesosoma uniformly foveolate, face and dorsal pronotum overlain with faint reticulate rugulae to variable extent; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines about one half length of posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; abundant flexuous erect setae on mesosomal dorsum and gaster; tibiae without erect setae; color light to dark brown. Major: inner hypostomal teeth stout, closely spaced; scape base terete; face with shallow scrobal impressions; most of face smooth and shining, space between eye and antennal fossa foveolate overlain with longitudinal rugulae, with subparallel, longitudinal carinulae between frontal carinae; propodeal spines one third to one half length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum smooth and shining; sides of head with abundant erect setae; abundant flexuous erect setae on mesosomal dorsum and gaster; tibiae with no erect setae.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.43, HL 0.47, SL 0.35, EL 0.09, WL 0.50, PSL 0.08, PTW 0.09, PPW 0.17, CI 91, SI 83, PSLI 18, PPI 187 (n=3).

Measurements, major worker: HW 0.74, HL 0.84, SL 0.38, EL 0.12, WL 0.63, PSL 0.08, PTW 0.14, PPW 0.31, CI 89, SI 51, PSLI 11, PPI 217 (n=3).

Biology. This species is known from one lowland, dry, scrubby site on the outskirts of Managua. Minor and major workers recruited to a ground bait, and minor and majors were collected in the vicinity of the bait using a Davis sifter.

Comments. The minor worker of this species has the habitus and sculpture of P. harrisonfordi . Unlike P. harrisonfordi and similar species, the major worker has most of the face smooth and shiny.

Etymology: From the type locality.

Figures

PLATE 8.