Pheidole laelaps Wilson, 2003, new species

Pheidole laelaps new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L laelaps, a storm.

Diagnosis Similar in various ways to the species listed in the heading, but easily distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: most of the dorsal surface of the head carinulate, with carinulae originating on the frontal lobes and carinae along the midline spread outward (laterad), those laterad to the frontal carinae approach the lateral margins of the head seen in full face; occipital cleft very deep; antennal scapes fall short of the occipital corner by 2X their own maximum width; propodeal spines equilaterally triangular.

Minor: entire dorsal surface of head and mesosoma transversely carinulate; nuchal collar broad and well demarcated; propodeal spines reduced to denticles.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.66, HL 1.74, SL 1.24, EL 0.22, PW 0.76. Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.90, SL 1.18, EL 0.14, PW 0.48. Color Major and minor: concolorous yellow.

Range Known from the type locality (Pance, Colombia) and from near Cochancay on the Guayaquil-El Tambo Highway, Cariar, Ecuador.

Biology The type series was collected in montane rainforest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COLOMBIA: Pance, Mun. de Cali, Valle, 1700 m (W. L. Brown and S. Chaplin). Scale bars = 1 mm.