Pheidole xyston, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, pp. 365-535 : 535

Pheidole xyston new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr xyston , shaft of a spear, referring to the long propodeal spine of the minor.

Diagnosis Similar to ceibana , lemnisca , peltastes , perkinsi , renae , and tayrona , distinguished in the major by the rugoreticulate occiput, shallowly concave posterior cephalic profile, cornulate humerus, and posteriorly curving propodeal spine; and in the minor by the toothed humerus and relatively long, straight propodeal spine.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.70, HL 0.78, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.40.

Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.42, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.26.

Color Major: mandibles and body medium brown, rest of appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known only from the type series and from a second series collected 11 km north of San Andres Tuxtla, Veracruz, at 1400 m (P. S. Ward).

Biology Philip Ward took the San Andres Tuxtla series from a rotten log in cloud forest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 7 km north of Huatusco, Veracruz, 1280 m (A. Newton). Scale bars = 1 mm.