Pheidole flavifrons ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L flavifrons ^HNS, yellow front, pertaining to the anterior half of the major's head.

Diagnosis A medium-sized, uniquely multicolored member of the flavens ^HNS group, whose major has a prominent, subangular humerus and exclusively carinulate head, and the minor has a dentate humerus.

Most similar to arhuaca ^HNS of Colombia but with different color, and in the major a smooth (not foveolate) pronotal dorsum; and to amazonica ^HNS, differing in head sculpture and shape of humerus.

See also the less similar minutula ^HNS, nitidicollis ^HNS, and tenerescens ^HNS, and other species listed as close to arhuaca ^HNS (q.v.). Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.86, HL 0.92, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.48, SL 0.40, EL 0.08, PW 0.28.

Color Major: anterior half of head yellow, posterior half yellowish brown, with a dark brown circular spot in the center of the head capsule dorsum; body medium brown, mandibles and scape light brown, rest of appendages yellow. Minor: body dark brown; appendages, clypeus, and anterior genal margins yellow.

range Known only from the type locality in Amazonian Peru.

Biology The type series was taken from beneath the bark of a tree in a terra firme tree fall.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Scale bars = 1 mm.