Pheidole inca, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 615

Pheidole inca new species

TYPES Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Named after the Inca, in whose ancient city Machu Picchu the species was discovered.

Diagnosis Major: uniquely distinguished within the punctatissima group by the sculpturing of the dorsal surface of the head, which consists of longitudinal carinulae along the midline flanked on either side by rugoreticula, all reaching the occipital border, combined with the presence of a median ocellus, propodeal spine reduced to a right angle, and brown body color. Minor: unknown.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.96, SL 0.74, EL 0.18, PW 0.46.

Color Major: head, antennae, and gaster medium brown, mesosoma and waist light brown, legs dark yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Holotype, major. PERU: Machu Picchu, 2000-2200 m (William L. Brown). Scale bar = 1 mm.