Pheidole mirabilis, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 722

Pheidole mirabilis new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L mirabilis , wonderful, strange, alluding to the armament of the major.

Diagnosis Similar to the species listed in the heading above but unique among Pheidole , and all ants, for the complex armament at the front of the major's head.

Major: a spike emerges from the middle carina of the clypeus; the clypeus divides into two layers, each of which projects a pair of angulate processes down and forward; carinulae originating on the frontal carinae turn outward and travel toward the sides of the head; rugoreticulum present mesad to eye; most of posterior third of dorsal head surface smooth; propodeal spines vertical to propodeal basal face.

Minor: dorsal mesosomal surface mostly covered by widely spaced transverse carinulae; propodeal spines vertical to propodeal basal face; postpetiolar node low in side view.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.24, HL 1.64, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.70. Paratype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.74, SL 0.62, EL 0.10, PW 0.42. color Major: body medium reddish brown, legs yellowish brown.

Minor: body plain medium brown except for gaster, which is plain light brown; appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known from three localities in Valle, at 1570-1700 m.

Biology All of the three series were collected in montane rainforest. A seed cache was found in the nest of the type colony.

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.