Pheidole venatrix, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard University Press : 247

Pheidole venatrix new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L venatrix , huntress.

Diagnosis A member of the diligens group similar in various characters to the species listed in the heading above, distinguished as follows.

Major: small "sharkfin" extension present on humerus in dorsal-oblique view; propodeal spines thin and one-third as long as the basal propodeal face; mesonotal convexity low and subangulate; posterior dorsal half of head in side view weakly concave; postpetiolar node spinose; rugoreticulum absent on head; carinulae of head extend most of the way past eye level to the occiput. Minor: propodeal spine absent; mesonotal convexity in dorsal-oblique view with posterior face only; occiput narrowed with nuchal collar.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.94, HL 1.00, SL 0.50, EL 0.10, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.56, SL 0.68, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

color Major: body and mandibles plain medium brown, other appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The type series was collected by Charles Kugler in a montane cafetal (coffee plantation).

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: Finca El Recreo, Bonda, Magdalena, 850 m (Charles Kugler). Scale bars = 1 mm.