Pheidole lemnisca ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology L lemnisca ^HNS, ribbon or band, referring to the transverse color stripes on the gaster. Diagnosis Similar to species listed in the heading above, distinguished as follows.

Major: unique color pattern (see Color below); needle-like propodeal spine; prominent humeral lobe; and small but distinct mesonotal convexity.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.36, EL 0.10, PW 0.40. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.42, SL 0.40, EL 0.10, PW 0.26.

color Major: all yellow except for a conspicuous light brown transverse stripe along the rear border of each gastral tergite and a contrasting light brown circular spot on the vertex.

Minor: concolorous yellow.

Range Known only from the type series.

Biology Males were collected with the type colony, 1-4 June.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: on a ridge, Finca Los Guaduales, 10 km southwest San Jose del Palmar, Rio Torito, Choco (C. Kugler). Scale bars = 1 mm.