Pheidole drepanon, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 409

Pheidole drepanon new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology Gr drepanon , sickle, alluding to the propodeal spines.

DIAGNOSIS Similar to the Dominican endemic harlequina , differing from it and all other Pheidole as follows. Major: propodeal spines very thick, curved, sickle-shaped, and much longer than the propodeal basal face anterior to them; head and body bicolored as depicted; all of dorsal surface of head except for occipital margin carinulate and weakly rugulose; head slightly broader than long; petiolar peduncle very long; postpetiole from above diamond-shaped.

Minor: propodeal spines very thick, curved, and sickle-shaped, much longer than the propodeal basal face anterior to them; body concolorous medium brown.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.02, SL 0.70, EL 0.14, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.52, SL 0.64, EL 0.08, PW 0.32.

Color Major: body medium brown except for the front of the head (as depicted), as well as dorsum of promesonotum and anterior half of first gastral tergite, which are brownish yellow.

Minor: body concolorous medium brown, appendages light to yellowish brown.

Range P. drepanon is evidently an endemic of the Dominican Republic; a second collection was made by P. S. Ward 22 km north of Pedemales, 18A°09TN* 71A°35'W, 1600 m. P. drepanon might also occur in Haiti, especially since the type locality is close to the border.

Biology The type colony was collected in tropical evergreen forest.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (GREATER ANTILLES): Sierra de Baoruco, N. Cabo Rojo, Km 23, near Pedernales, 500 m (William L. and Doris E. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.