Pheidole ariel ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr ariel, airy sprite, alluding to the slender, pale yellow bodies of both castes.

Diagnosis Similar to desertorum ^HNS and vistana ^HNS (see also the less similar hyatti ^HNS), distinguished from these members of the fallax ^HNS group and other members of the diligens ^HNS group as follows.

Major: pale to medium yellow; slender; antennal scape just reaching occipital border; occipital border deep, subangulate at midline; pilosity of body dorsum moderately abundant, suberect to erect, and very long; propodeal spine reduced to a denticle; pronotum and all of gaster smooth and shiny.

Minor: occiput broad and lacking nuchal collar; propodeal spine reduced to a denticle; carinulae limited to circular lines around

antennal fossae; mesopleuron and side of propodeum foveolate and opaque; rest of body smooth and shiny.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.62, SL 1.34, EL 0.26, PW 0.72.

Paratype minor: HW 0.66, HL 0.82, SL 1.16, EL 0.22, PW 0.44.

color Major: concolorous pale to medium yellow.

Minor: concolorous pale yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 38 km south of Monclova, Puente La Muralla, Coahuila, 1280 m (Robert J. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.