Pheidole ursus

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 773

Pheidole ursus Mayr

Pheidole ursus Mayr 1870b: 986. Syn.: Macromischa cressoni Andre 1887, synonymy by Brown 1981: 528; Pheidole ursus var. gracilinoda Forel 1904e: 172, synonymy by Brown 1981: 528.

types Naturhist. Mus. Wien; Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L ursus , bear, undoubtedly alluding to the large, rough-surface properties and dark color of the major.

Diagnosis A very large, unique species similar in various traits to the species listed in the heading above.

Major: very long propodeal spine, largely rugoreticulate surface of the mesosoma and dorsal surface of the head, shallowly concave profde of the posterior half of the head in side view, completely foveolate and opaque surfaces of the gastral tergites. Minor: extremely long propodeal spine and petiolar peduncle, rugoreticulate promesonotum, and somewhat narrowed occiput with a thin nuchal collar.

Measurements (mm) Syntype major: HW 2.64, HL 2.54, SL 1.22, EL 0.26, PW 1.02. Minor: HW 0.88, HL 0.86, SL 1.00, EL 0.18, PW 0.60. Color Major: body and appendages dark to blackish brown.

Minor: body concolorous blackish brown with reddish overtones; appendages, including mandibles, a lighter shade of medium reddish brown; tarsi yellowish brown.

Range In addition to the types (from "Mexico") I have seen a minor worker from near Cuichapa, Veracruz, collected at 1600 m.

Biology The Teoviscocla minor worker figured was collected in tropical forest with plantings of coffee.

Figure Upper: syntype, major. Mexico, no further locality (collected by "Prof. Bilimek"). Lower: minor. MEXICO: Santa Teoviscocla, near Cuichapa, Veracruz, 1600 m (Cornell University Mexico Field Party, August 1960). Scale bars = 1 mm.