Pheidole ariel, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard University Press : 169

Pheidole ariel new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr ariel, airy sprite, alluding to the slender, pale yellow bodies of both castes.

Diagnosis Similar to desertorum and vistana (see also the less similar hyatti ), distinguished from these members of the fallax group and other members of the diligens group as follows.

Major: pale to medium yellow; slender; antennal scape just reaching occipital border; occipital border deep, subangulate at midline; pilosity of body dorsum moderately abundant, suberect to erect, and very long; propodeal spine reduced to a denticle; pronotum and all of gaster smooth and shiny.

Minor: occiput broad and lacking nuchal collar; propodeal spine reduced to a denticle; carinulae limited to circular lines around

antennal fossae; mesopleuron and side of propodeum foveolate and opaque; rest of body smooth and shiny.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.46, HL 1.62, SL 1.34, EL 0.26, PW 0.72.

Paratype minor: HW 0.66, HL 0.82, SL 1.16, EL 0.22, PW 0.44.

color Major: concolorous pale to medium yellow.

Minor: concolorous pale yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 38 km south of Monclova, Puente La Muralla, Coahuila, 1280 m (Robert J. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.