Pheidole pelor, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 547

Pheidole pelor new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology Gr pelor , prodigy, monster, referring to the bizarre head form.

Diagnosis A typical member of the lamia group: the major has a phragmotic head, with the anterior portion incorporating the clypeus and mandibles flattened (truncated), and deep antennal scrobes. This species is easily distinguished from the other members of the lamia group ( colobopsis , lamia , truncula ) by the rugoreticulate posterior dorsum of the head, preceded by parallel longitudinal carinulae that extend to all the surface of the frontal lobes, and by the irregularly rugose sculpturing of the central part of the clypeus. Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.00, HL 1.30, SL 0.50, EL 0.14, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.64, SL 0.46, EL 0.10, PW 0.40. color Major: concolorous dark yellow. Minor: concolorous medium yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality, and two other localities in central Texas (Pedernales State Park, Blanco Co. and Junction, Kimble Co.). At the Brackenridge Field Laboratory in Austin, it occurs with the similar species P. lamia .

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: holotype major. Lower: paratype, minor. TEXAS: Brackenridge Laboratory, a field station of the University of Texas in Austin (D. H. Feener). Scale bars = 1 mm.