Pheidole leonina, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 315

Pheidole leonina new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology L leonina , lion-like.

diagnosis A member of the " jujuyensis complex" of the larger fallax group, comprising araneoides , cuevasi , durionei , jujuyensis , kugleri , leonina , leptina , lucretii , lupus , paraensis , punctithorax , tijucana , wallacei , and wolfringi . P. leonina is distinguished as follows.

Major: occiput narrowed in full-face view; antennal scape exceeding occipital corner by more than its own maximum width; rugoreticulum on each side of dorsum of head in full-face view extends from anterior margin of head to edge of occiput, where it is replaced by rugulae; propodeal spines stout, short, equilaterally triangular; all of central strip of first gastral tergite shagreened. Minor: propodeal spines reduced to denticles; occiput drawn into thin neck, with nuchal collar. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.52, HL 1.60, SL 1.44, EL 0.30, PW 0.82. Paratype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.92, SL 1.44, EL 0.22, PW 0.46.

COLOR Major: mandibles light reddish brown, body and antennae light reddish to yellowish brown, legs medium to dark yellow.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.

range Known only from the type locality.

biology In terra firme forest, recruiting to dead cockroach.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios (Stefan Cover). Scale bars = 1 mm.