Pheidole hortonae, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 709

Pheidole hortonae new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named in honor of Kathleen M. Horton, expert and indispensable contributor to the preparation of this Pheidole monograph.

diagnosis Similar to antillana of the lesser Antilles and avia , bucculenta , guilelmimuelleri , hetschkoi , heyeri , mamore , praeses , and rhytifera of South America, differing in the following combination of traits.

Major: antennal lobe prominent above clypeus in side view; pilosity on dorsal surface of body long, erect to suberect, and very dense, with many of those on pronotum curving backward and many of those on mesonotum curving forward; patch of rugoreticulum present laterad to antennal fossa; rear half of head capsule smooth and shiny; pronotal dorsum mostly rugoreticulate, and dorsum of mesonotum smooth and shiny.

Minor: posterior half of the head and all of the mesosomal dorsum rugoreticulate; pilosity long, erect to suberect, and very dense, with hairs on the pronotal dorsum curving backward and those on the mesonotum curving forward. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.60, HL 1.66, SL 0.70, EL 0.18, PW 0.84. Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.70, EL 0.12, PW 0.48.

color Major: body and mandibles medium reddish brown, other appendages brownish yellow. Minor: body medium brown, appendages light brown except for tarsi, which are yellow.

range Known only from the type locality.

Biology In rainforest.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. VENEZUELA: Estado Aragua, Rancho Grande, 1100 m (William L. and Doris E. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.