Pheidole meinertopsis ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L meinertopsis ^HNS, resembling (Pheidole) meinerti ^HNS.

diagnosis Resembling in some traits meinerti ^HNS and tambopatae ^HNS. differing as follows.

Major: reddish yellow; mesonotal convexity well developed; in dorsal-oblique view, dorsal pronotal profde bilobate, including a prominent lobose humerus; dorsal mesosomal pilosity sparse, consisting of a row of well-spaced pairs of setae; petiolar node tapers to a blunt point at apex; postpetiole from above trapezoidal; carinulae originating on frontal lobes spread outward slightly from the midline and extend to but not across the occiput.

Minor: pilosity sparse, on promesonotal profde consisting of evenly spaced pairs of setae; in dorsal-oblique view, pronotal profde bilobate; the humerus and mesonotal convexity angulate; eye set well forward on head; occiput broad and strongly concave. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.88, HL 0.92, SL 0.46, EL 0.12, PW 0.42. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.46, SL 0.42, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

Color Major: body and mandibles medium reddish yellow, other appendages clear medium yellow. Minor: medium reddish yellow except for gaster and appendages, which are plain medium yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The type colony was found on the ground in terra firme forest, nesting in a rotten stick on top of leaf litter.

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.