Pheidole prolixa ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology L prolixa ^HNS, stretched out, referring to the somewhat elongate head of the major.

Diagnosis A small, reddish (major) or yellowish brown (minor) species similar to longinoi ^HNS and otisi ^HNS, but readily distinguished by its darker color in both castes; the erect propodeal spine in both castes; and the more extensive cephalic sculpturing in the major, in which the frontal lobes are completely carinulate, and carinulae mesad to the eye extend all the way from the anterior clypeal border to the rugoreticulum that covers the occiput. P. prolixa ^HNS has somewhat less resemblance to ceibana ^HNS, ruida ^HNS, and sospes ^HNS, which may be examined to confirm the identification.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.72, HL 0.84, SL 0.40, EL 0.10, PW 0.38. Paratype minor: HW 0.40, HL 0.46, SL 0.36, EL 0.06, PW 0.26. Color Major: body light reddish brown, appendages dark yellow. Minor: body yellowish brown, appendages clear medium yellow.

Range Known from the type series only.

Biology The type series was sifted from litter and mold on the floor of lowland rainforest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: Estacion Biologica Los Tuxtlas, 10 km north-northwest of Sontecomapan, 18A°35TSf 95A°05 W, 200 m (Philip S. Ward). Scale bars = 1 mm.