Pheidole chalcoides Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole chalcoides new species

types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr chalcoides, like chalca, a similar species.

Diagnosis Medium-sized, bicolorous, similar to chalca of Hidalgo and Veracruz, distinguished in the major by the rugoreticulate humerus, which is also more prominently extended in dorsal-oblique view; by the narrower and laterally rounded postpetiolar node, and by the light brown (as opposed to yellow) occiput; and in the minor by the toothed humerus and foveolate, opaque pronotal dorsum.

Also similar but less so to arhuaca, caulicola, mincana, sagana, schmalzi, tragica, and umphreyi, differing in details of body shape, sculpture (especially mesosomal), and color.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.98, HL 1.00, SL 0.48, EL 0.12, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.56, SL 0.44, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

Color Major: head weakly bicolorous, with anterior third of the capsule brownish yellow and the rear two-thirds light brown;

mesosoma, waist, and appendages light to medium brown; gaster medium brown.

Minor: head, mesosoma, waist medium brown; gaster dark brown; appendages light brown.

Range Known from the type locality and a single series from Rio Palenque, Ecuador (Gary J. Umphrey).

Biology The Ecuador series was collected from a rotten section of a live tree, about 1.5 m above ground in forest.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 3 km west of Fortin De Las Flores, Veracruz, 1000 m (R. J. Hamton and A. B. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.