Pheidole rogeri Emery

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 741

Pheidole rogeri Emery

Pheidole rogeri Emery 1896g: 64.

Types Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova.

Etymology Eponymous.

Diagnosis A very large species with "brick red" (clear light reddish brown) majors and brownish yellow minors. Major and minor with extremely long propodeal spines.

Major: all of anterior dorsal three-fourths of head covered by densely packed parallel longitudinal carinae; mesonotal convexity low, subangulate in side view; anterior margin of postpetiolar surface projecting as a small toothlike process in side view. Similar to alpinensis , exarata , excubitor , germaini , grantae , grandinodus , obrima , stulta , tristis , and zoster , differing in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity, as illustrated, and in color.

Measurements (mm) Unique holotype major: HW 2.40, HL 2.64, SL 1.06, EL 0.24, PW 1.12. Minor (La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica): HW 0.68, HL 0.84, SL 1.04, EL 0.14, PW 0.46.

color Major: the holotype is a rich concolorous light reddish brown ("brick red"), with a yellowish tinge. Majors in the La Selva Biological Station series have the brick red color in the head, mesosoma, and waist, but the gaster is plain medium brown, and the propodeal spines are blackish brown; and in addition, faint iridescent blue reflections can be seen on the dorsal surface of the body in certain angles of light. Minor: brownish yellow overall.

Range Atlantic slope of Costa Rica to 800 m (J. T. Longino 1997).

biology Nests in soil in wet forests; the colonies are difficult to locate during excavation even when the nests are opened carefully (Longino 1997).

Figure Upper: major (compared with unique holotype major in Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova). Lower: minor. COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia (D. Roth). (Type locality: "Jimenez," near Guapiles, Costa Rica.) Scale bars = 1 mm.