Pheidole similigena Wheeler ^HNS

Pheidole similigena Wheeler ^HNS 1937b: 446.

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L similigena ^HNS, similar cheeks (genae), allusion unknown.

diagnosis Especially similar to terresi ^HNS of Hispaniola but also sharing traits with amabilis ^HNS, arhuaca ^HNS, citrina ^HNS, crinita ^HNS, delicata ^HNS, hedlundorum ^HNS, laselva ^HNS, mallota ^HNS, melastomae ^HNS, nitidicollis ^HNS, and tillandsiarum ^HNS, differing as follows.

Major: light reddish brown; eyes very small, Eye Length less than one-tenth Head Width; head subrectangular, with moderately deep occipital cleft; mesonotal convexity present but rudimentary; carinulae cover most of anterior half of dorsal head surface, and rest of body entirely smooth and shiny; propodeal spines moderately long, and thick at base; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angulate sides.

Minor: body almost completely smooth and shiny; eyes relatively small; occiput broad, its margin flat in full-face view; propodeal spines moderately long and thin.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.96, HL 1.08, SL 0.50, EL 0.08, PW 0.46. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.44, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

Color Major: concolorous light reddish brown except for gaster, which is medium reddish brown. Minor: concolorous light yellowish brown.

Range In addition to the types from Las Villas Province, I have seen specimens from Sierra de Mesa, Pinar del Rio, also in Cuba (Jorge Fontenla).

Biology Unknown.

figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. CUBA: Buenos Aires, Trinidad Mts., Las Villas, 750-1100 m (P. J. Darlington). Scale bars = 1 mm.