Pheidole spilota, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard University Press : 233

Pheidole spilota new species

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr spilota , spotted, stained, with reference to spot on vertex.

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

Major: head yellowish brown with a light brown spot on vertex; antennal scape fails to reach occipital comer by about its own maximum width; mesonotal convexity angulate in side view; propodeal spine stout and a third as long as the basal propodeal face; no rugoreticulum on head; carinulae along frontal carinae spread strongly outward, and those next to dorsal midline reach the occiput; anterior median strip of first gastral tergite lightly shagreened; body densely covered with hairs as long as the eyes or longer.

Minor: yellow; occiput narrowed, with nuchal crest; posterior dorsal head surface sparsely foveolate; mesonotal convexity in side view subangulate.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.16, HL 1.18, SL 0.96, EL 0.20, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.76, SL 0.92, EL 0.14, PW 0.40.

color Major: concolorous yellowish brown, with a slightly contrasting small light brown spot on vertex; also, posterior strips of gastral tergites light brown.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: Las Salinas, near Restrepo, Meta (W. W. Lamar). Scale bars = 1 mm.