Pheidole macrops Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole macrops new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Gr macrops, large-eyed.

Diagnosis A member of the " bicarinata complex" of the larger pilifera group, comprising agricola, aurea, barbata, bicarinata, centeotl, cerebrosior, defecta, gilvescens, macclendoni, macrops, marcidula, paiute, pinealis, vinelandica, xerophila, yaqui, and yucatana (macrops is closet to yaqui), which complex is characterized by the large to very large, forward-set eyes of both castes; and, in the major, the occipital lobes usually lacking any sculpturing; the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally angular (cornulate in cerebrosior). P. macrops is distinguished within the complex by the following combination of traits.

Major: reddish brown; sides of pronotum longitudinally carinulate; posterior half of dorsum of head sprinkled with sparse foveae; propodeum spines relatively long and thin; apex of petiolar node in side view evenly rounded; postpetiolar node from above oval. Minor: dorsal margin of petiolar node seen from behind rises to a peak; propodeal spines vertical. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.30, SL 0.60, EL 0.22, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.56, SL 0.46, EL 0.16, PW 0.30. color Major: concolorous medium reddish brown, tarsi yellow.

Minor: body and mandibles blackish brown to black, legs and antennae medium to dark brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

biology The type colony was collected from a ground nest in sandy desert (Philip S. Ward).

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 4 km south-southeast of Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur (Philip S. Ward). Scale bars = 1 mm.