Pheidole cyrtostela ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr cyrtostela ^HNS, curved column, referring to the distinctive petiole.

Diagnosis With camptostela ^HNS, unique within Pheidole ^HNS for the sharply bent petiole and depressed petiolar node, as seen from the side, in both major and minor. Distinguished from camptostela ^HNS by the less exaggerated form of the petiolar modification, the presence of rugoreticulum on the head of the major, and the broader, less concave occiput of the minor. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.90, HL 0.92, SL 0.64, EL 0.16, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.52, SL 0.58, EL 0.12, PW 0.30.

Color Major and minor: body and appendages medium yellow except for gaster, which is medium brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

biology The type colony was found nesting in the soil of grazed cerrado (tropical savanna); workers were attracted to bait.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. BRAZIL: Souza Lima, Varzea Grande, Mato Grosso (L. A. Wood). Scale bars = 1 mm.