Pheidole zoster, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 778

publication ID	20017
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6275636
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1B496581-E85E-3ED9-1A7C-325CE229DBF7
treatment provided by	Donat
scientific name	Pheidole zoster
status	new species

Treatment

Pheidole zoster HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr zoster HNS , belt, girdle, referring to the broad postpetiole.

Diagnosis A large, bicolorous (major) or reddish yellow (minor) member of the tristis HNS group whose major has a very large ovalangulate postpetiolar node, prominent subpostpetiolar convexity, dense parallel transverse carinulae covering all of the promesonotum, and completely foveolate and opaque dorsal head surface and first gastral tergite.

Minor: with large, somewhat elongated bell-shaped postpetiole; subpostpetiolar process; short, erect propodeal spines, and completely foveolate and opaque dorsal head surface and first gastral tergite.

Similar to alpinensis HNS , exarata HNS , excubitor HNS , germaini HNS , grandinodus HNS , grantae HNS , obrima HNS , rogeri HNS , stulta HNS , and tristis HNS , differing in many details

of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity, as illustrated, and in color.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.64, HL 1.82, SL 0.82, EL 0.20, PW 0.88.

Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.68, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

color Major: head, mesosoma, and petiole reddish yellow; mandibles medium brown; postpetiole and gaster light brown; legs and antennae dark yellow. Minor: reddish yellow

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The nest contained a seed cache and males 9-12 March.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Tingo Maria (William L. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.