Pheidole chalcoides ^HNS new species

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr chalcoides ^HNS, like chalca ^HNS, a similar species.

Diagnosis Medium-sized, bicolorous, similar to chalca ^HNS of Hidalgo and Veracruz, distinguished in the major by the rugoreticulate humerus, which is also more prominently extended in dorsal-oblique view; by the narrower and laterally rounded postpetiolar node, and by the light brown (as opposed to yellow) occiput; and in the minor by the toothed humerus and foveolate, opaque pronotal dorsum.

Also similar but less so to arhuaca ^HNS, caulicola ^HNS, mincana ^HNS, sagana ^HNS, schmalzi ^HNS, tragica ^HNS, and umphreyi ^HNS, differing in details of body shape, sculpture (especially mesosomal), and color.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.98, HL 1.00, SL 0.48, EL 0.12, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.56, SL 0.44, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

Color Major: head weakly bicolorous, with anterior third of the capsule brownish yellow and the rear two-thirds light brown;

mesosoma, waist, and appendages light to medium brown; gaster medium brown.

Minor: head, mesosoma, waist medium brown; gaster dark brown; appendages light brown.

Range Known from the type locality and a single series from Rio Palenque, Ecuador (Gary J. Umphrey).

Biology The Ecuador series was collected from a rotten section of a live tree, about 1.5 m above ground in forest.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 3 km west of Fortin De Las Flores, Veracruz, 1000 m (R. J. Hamton and A. B. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.