Pheidole longinoi ^HNS new species

Types iNBio.

etymology In honor of the collector John T. (Jack) Longino, pioneer explorer of the Costa Rican ant fauna.

Diagnosis A small, medium yellow member of the flavens ^HNS group, most similar to otisi ^HNS and prolixa ^HNS but easily distinguished from them in the major by the more prominent mesonotal convexity; smaller, more posteriorly directed propodeal spines; postpetiolar shape; and many details of cephalic sculpturing, including absence of rugoreticulum in the center of the occiput.

The minor also differs in having the pilosity on the mesosomal dorsum limited to evenly spaced pairs of hairs. P. longinoi ^HNS is also similar but less so to ceibana ^HNS, ruida ^HNS, and sospes ^HNS.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.66, HL 0.82, SL 0.42, EL 0.08, PW 0.38.

Paratype minor: HW 0.40, HL 0.44, SL 0.34, EL 0.08, PW 0.26.

color Major and minor: concolorous medium yellow.

Range Costa Rica.

Biology P. longinoi ^HNS inhabits wet forest, nesting in internodes of Cecropia insignis saplings (J. T. Longino).

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: 6.5 km east of Monteverde, Alajuela, 950 m (John T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.