Pheidole humeridens ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology L humeridens ^HNS, shoulder-tooth.

Diagnosis A member of the fallax ^HNS group similar in various characters to the species listed above, differing as follows. Major: humerus dentate; rugoreticulum on sides of head extends to halfway between eyes and level of occiput; mid-occiput transversely carinulate; antennal scapes reach halfway between eyes and level of occiput; anterior edge of pronotum and all of propodeal dorsum transversely carinulate; in side view, propodeal spines short, vertical to basal propodeal face; from above, postpetiole oval.

Minor: bicolored (see below); humerus toothed; propodeal tooth small and thin; propodeal dorsum carinulate; occiput in full-face view flat.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.50, HL 1.56, SL 1.02, EL 0.26, PW 0.78. Paratype minor: HW 0.74, HL 0.80, SL 0.94, EL 0.20, PW 0.46.

COLOR Major: brownish yellow, with rear halves of gastral tergites changing to light brown..

Minor: bicolored, with head, gaster, and pronotal dorsum medium brown, and rest of body and appendages brownish yellow.

range Known only from the type locality.

Biology At the type locality humeridens ^HNS colonies occupied conspicuous mound nests in a heavily grazed pasture.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires (James C. Trager). Scale bars = 1 mm.