Pheidole crinita ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology L crinita ^HNS, hairy.

Diagnosis a small, yellow member of the flavens ^HNS group distinguished in the major and minor by the complete absence of sculpturing posterior to the level of the eye, broadly concave occipital border, nearly perfect semicircular profde of the promesonotum, and abundant, long pilosity.

Major: nearly vertical propodeal spine in side view, exceptionally large propodeal spiracle, and laterally angulate postpetiolar node. Similar to amabilis ^HNS, boliviana ^HNS, melastomae ^HNS, mixteca ^HNS, scitula ^HNS, and especially terresi ^HNS of Hispaniola and tysoni ^HNS of the eastern United States.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.76, HL 0.88, SL 0.42, EL 0.06, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.40, EL 0.04, PW 0.32. Color Major: clear medium yellow. Minor: clear medium to pale yellow.

Range Known only from the type series.

Biology The type colony was found in a buried piece of rotting wood.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. ECUADOR: Sucua, 2A°28'S 78A°10"W (Gary J. Umphrey). Scale bars = 1 mm.