Pheidole dione ^HNS Forel, new status

Pheidole rufipilis var. dione ^HNS Forel 1913m: 225.

Types Mus. Hist. Nat. Geneve.

Etymology Gr dione ^HNS, a matronymic name for Aphrodite.

Diagnosis A member of the fallax ^HNS group, most similar to the species listed in the heading above, distinguished as follows. Major: antennal scapes reaching within 2X their maximum width to occipital corners; rugoreticulum on each side of head forming a band from eye laterally to antennal fossa and forward slightly anterior to eye; carinulae on frontal lobes limited to their lateral margins and extending posteriorly to midway between eye and occipital margin; propodeal spines small, equilaterally triangular; pronotal profde in dorsal-oblique view a single convexity, and mesonotal profde subangular; postpetiole from above laterally subangulate; pronotum smooth; pilosity dense and long, many hairs longer than Eye Length.

Minor: pilosity long, some hairs 2X Eye Length; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; mesonotal convexity in dorsal-oblique view subangulate; occiput in frontal view feebly convex.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.34, SL 0.94, EL 0.18, PW 0.62.

Paralectotype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

color Major: body and appendages plain light brown.

Minor: body plain light brown, appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known only from the types.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. ARGENTINA: Jujuy. Scale bars = 1 mm.