Pheidole xyston ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr xyston ^HNS, shaft of a spear, referring to the long propodeal spine of the minor.

Diagnosis Similar to ceibana ^HNS, lemnisca ^HNS, peltastes ^HNS, perkinsi ^HNS, renae ^HNS, and tayrona ^HNS, distinguished in the major by the rugoreticulate occiput, shallowly concave posterior cephalic profile, cornulate humerus, and posteriorly curving propodeal spine; and in the minor by the toothed humerus and relatively long, straight propodeal spine.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.70, HL 0.78, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.40.

Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.42, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

Color Major: mandibles and body medium brown, rest of appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known only from the type series and from a second series collected 11 km north of San Andres Tuxtla, Veracruz, at 1400 m (P. S. Ward).

Biology Philip Ward took the San Andres Tuxtla series from a rotten log in cloud forest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 7 km north of Huatusco, Veracruz, 1280 m (A. Newton). Scale bars = 1 mm.