Pheidole cerina ^HNS new species

Types INBio.

etymology L cerina ^HNS, wax-colored, yellowish, referring to the color.

Diagnosis a relatively large species for the flavens ^HNS group, with yellow to brown major and minor. Similar to amabilis ^HNS of Costa Rica but differing in the major in the reduced propodeal spines, which point posteriorly (versus vertically in amabilis ^HNS); in the well-developed mesonotal convexity, in the longer cephalic carinulae; in the more extensive carinulae of the pronotal dorsum; and in much longer antennal scapes of the minor (SL/HW 1.14, versus 1.0 in amabilis ^HNS). P. cerina ^HNS, in the major mesonotal convexity and longer minor scapes, appears intermediate between the flavens ^HNS and punctatissima ^HNS groups.

See also the less similar grex ^HNS, mixteca ^HNS, and morelosana ^HNS.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.74, SL 0.64, EL 0.16, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.50, EL 0.06, PW 0.30.

Color Major: body, mandibles, and antennae concolorous reddish yellow, legs medium yellow.

Minor: concolorous light-medium yellow. I have also seen two dark series from the type locality, with medium brown bodies and yellow appendages.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Three series for which data are available come from litter samples taken in wet forest.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: Rio Penas Blancas, Alajuela, lO0!0^ 84A°43 W, 800 m (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.