Pheidole glyphoderma, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 697

Pheidole glyphoderma new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr glyphoderma , engraved skin, referring to the elaborate sculpturing of the major.

diagnosis A distinctive member of the tristis group, characterized by the following traits.

Major: in side view, frontal lobe projects forward to form a conspicuous triangle; parallel transverse carinulae encircle the posterior half of the dorsal surface of the head, curving downward along the genae to reach the anterior margin of the head capsule; each frontal lobe gives rise to parallel carinulae which curve outward on the posterior half of the head and reach the occipital lobes; pronotum and mesonotum (but not the mesopleuron or propodeum) covered by carinulae. Minor: occiput broad, shallowly concave, and lacking nuchal collar; pronotum and mesothorax foveolate and opaque but lacking carinulae.

Close to arietans , also of Costa Rica, but differing in many features of body form and sculpturing, as illustrated.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.64, HL 1.66, SL 0.82, EL 0.20, PW 0.84.

Paratype minor: HW 0.64, HL 0.74, SL 0.64, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

Color Major: body dark reddish brown, appendages brownish yellow.

Minor: body plain light brown, appendages brownish yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Collected at a sugar bait in montane rainforest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: Monteverde, Puntarenas, 1500 m (Philip S. Ward). Scale bars = 1 mm.