Pheidole pararugiceps new species

Figure 16

Holotype major worker. Costa Rica, Heredia: 16km SSE La Virgen, 10.26667°N 84.08333°W, ±2000m, 1100m, 20 Feb 2001 (ALAS#11/WF/01/48) [INBC, unique specimen identifier INB0003213441].

Paratypes: major and minor workers. Same data as holotype; same locality as holotype but 10 Mar 2001 (Alas#11/TN/08/013), 20 Feb 2001 (ALAS#11/WF/01/41, 11/WF/01/all) [BMNH, CAS, FMNH, INBC, JTLC, LACM, MCZ, UCD, USNM].

Geographic Range

Costa Rica.

Diagnosis

This is one of the few species in which the minor worker completely lacks propodeal spines. It is like an orange and slightly larger version of Pheidole rugiceps, with which it is sympatric. Minor worker: color orange, size larger (HW> 0.50), and scapes relatively long (SI> 160), versus color usually dark brown to black (rarely orange), size smaller (HW <0.45), and scapes relatively shorter (SI <150) (rugiceps). Major worker: color as in minor worker; vertex lobes smooth and shining, size larger (HW> 1.00), versus longitudinal rugulae covering entire face, to posterior margin of vertex, and size smaller (HW <0.95) (rugiceps).

Description of minor worker

Measurements (paratype): HL 0.61, HW 0.51, HLA 0.21, SL 0.82, EL 0.14, ML 0.78, PSL 0.00, PMG 0.02, SPL 0.04, PTW 0.09, PPW 0.11, CI 82, SI 163, PSLI 0, PMGI 3, SPLI 7, PPI 123.

Measurements (n=5): HL 0.61-0.67, HW 0.50-0.56, SL 0.80-0.87, CI 79-83, SI 156-163.

Mandible and clypeus smooth and shiny; face foveolate with irregular shiny patches medially; margin of vertex rounded; occipital carina narrow, visible in full face view; scape with abundant subdecumbent pubescence and scattered suberect setae that are slightly longer than maximum width of scape; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines absent; pronotum smooth and shiny with band of faint foveolae anteriorly; katepisternum and propodeum foveolate; sparse erect setae on mesosomal dorsum; dorsal (outer) margin of hind tibia with subdecumbent pilosity and 3 pairs of erect setae subequal in length to maximum width of tibia; first gastral tergum smooth and shining; gastral dorsum with abundant erect setae; color orange.

Description of major worker

Measurements (holotype): HL 1.08, HW 1.02, HLA 0.27, SL 0.80, EL 0.18, ML 0.88, PSL 0.04, PMG 0.03, SPL 0.06, PTW 0.13, PPW 0.20, IHT 0.25, OHT 0.40, CI 95, SI 78, PSLI 4, PMGI 3, SPLI 5, PPI 153, HTI 61.

Measurements (n=2): HL 1.08-1.18, HW 1.02-1.12, SL 0.80-0.84, CI 95-95, SI 75-78.

Mandibles shiny, with coarse piligerous puncta, blunt longitudinal striae basally; clypeus smooth and flat with straight anterior margin; face with deep median groove, longitudinal rugae anteriorly, concentric around antennal insertion, radiating obliquely from between frontal carinae, fading to smooth and shining vertex lobes; head with abundant suberect setae projecting from sides of head in face view; scape smooth and shining, terete at base, with abundant erect setae longer than maximum width of scape; hypostomal margin flat; median tooth present, blunt; inner hypostomal teeth blunt, stout, slightly closer to midline than to outer hypostomal teeth; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines present, short; pronotum smooth and shining; katepisternum and propodeum foveolate; dorsal (outer) margin of hind tibia with pilosity similar to minor worker; pilosity abundant on mesosomal dorsum; postpetiole in dorsal view trapezoidal; first gastral tergite smooth and shining, with abundant erect setae; color orange.

Biology

Pheidole pararugiceps is known from four different collections, all from the same locality. They were collected at the 1070m site on the Barva transect in Braulio Carrillo National Park. This is a very wet forested site. The four collections were from the ALAS project. Two were Winkler samples of sifted leaf litter from the forest floor; one was in a pan trap on the ground, and one was a Berlese sample of rotting wood and fungi.

Etymology

The name is in reference to the similarity to P. rugiceps Wilson.