Pheidole inermis Mayr

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 146

Pheidole inermis Mayr

Pheidole inermis Mayr 1870b: 984. Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology L inermis , unarmed, referring to the absence of propodeal spines.

Diagnosis Distinguished from all other members of the biconstricta group and most of Pheidole species by the absence of propodeal spines in the major and minor. In full-face view, occipital cleft of major relatively shallow, occipital lobes tending toward subangulate.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.84, HL 1.72, SL 1.06, EL 0.24, PW 0.84. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.80, HL 0.94, SL 1.10, EL 0.14, PW 0.54.

Color Major: most of body light reddish brown, with mandibles, postpetiole, and gaster medium reddish brown. Minor: gaster medium brown, rest of body light reddish brown.

range I have verified series of inermis from Veracruz, Mexico (Cuichapa, 1600 m); Honduras (Mina El Mochito, Santa Barbara, 1040 m; Lago Yojoa, Cortes, 700 m); and Nicaragua (Matagalpa, 1200+ m).

Biology The species has been collected in montane forest, in one case (Mina El Mochito, Honduras) from rotting wood.

figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. MEXICO (no further data; Edward Norton, 1860s). Scale bars = 1 mm.