Pheidole laselva

Longino, J. T., 2009, Additions to the taxonomy of New World Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 2181, pp. 1-90 : 49

Pheidole laselva

Pheidole laselva Wilson 2003: 442 , figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Costa Rica, Heredia, near Puerto Viejo, La Selva Biological Station (Cover/Moffett/Tobin) [ MCZ] (examined).

Pheidole ebenina Wilson 2003: 412 , figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Guanacaste Conservation Area, Pitilla research station, 500m, 14 Oct 1992, tuna bait (Olson) [ MCZ] (examined). New synonymy.

Geographic Range

Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador.

Biology

This species occurs in mature wet forest habitats. In Costa Rica it is common below 500m elevation but there are records to 1220m. Major and minor workers are common at baits and in Winkler samples. Nest are in soft rotten wood and under loose bark of rotting logs.

Comments

The types of P. ebenina are well within the range of variation of P. laselva and there is no substantial difference.

The collection at MCZ contains several series from Colombia and one from Ecuador that closely match the morphology of P. laselva . All of them are from montane areas, above 500m, instead of lowland rainforest like the Costa Rican population.