Pheidole heterothrix ^HNS Santschi, new status

Pheidole obtusopilosa st. heterothrix ^HNS Santschi 1923d: 59. Syn.: Pheidole gavrilovi Kusnezov ^HNS 1952d: 80, n. syn. types Naturhist. Mus. Basel.

Etymology Gr heterothrix ^HNS, different hair (from that of obtusopilosa ^HNS).

Diagnosis Similar to obtusopilosa ^HNS in some traits but distinguished from it and other Pheidole ^HNS species as follows. Major: patch of rugoreticulum present between eye and antennal fossa on each side; entire remainder of dorsal surface of head, including occiput, carinulate; very faint antennal scrobe present; promesonotal profde smoothly rounded; mesonotal convexity low but with distinct anterior and posterior declivities; all of pronotum carinulate; humeri rugoreticulate; pilosity dense and short; postpetiole from above conulate.

Minor: humerus subangulate; propodeal spines robust, moderately long, and directed backward; all of body except gaster foveolate. Measurements (mm) Lectotype major { heterothrix ^HNS, not " gavrilovi ^HNS "): HW 1.12, HL 1.16, SL 0.54, EL 0.18, PW 0.62. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.54, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.

Color Major: all of body light reddish brown except gaster, which is medium reddish brown. Minor: body dark reddish brown, appendages medium reddish brown.

range In addition to the types, from Villaguay, Entre Rios, Argentina, I have seen series from the Argentine provinces of La Pampa, Misiones, and Tucuman.

Biology One series, collected by W. L. Brown at Horco Molle, Tucuman, was found at 900-1150 m in myrtaceous forest.

Figure Upper: major (syntype of synonymous gavrilovi ^HNS). Lower: minor (syntype of synonymous gavrilovi ^HNS). ARGENTINA: Loreto, Misiones, Argentina. Compared with lectotype and paralectotype of heterothrix ^HNS; upper outlines of minor mesosoma and occiput are those of heterothrix ^HNS syntype. (Type locality of heterothrix ^HNS: Villaguay, Entre Rios, Argentina.) Scale bars = 1 mm.