Pheidole laticrista

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 134

Pheidole laticrista Santschi

Pheidole (Elasmopheidole) laticrista Santschi 1916e: 375. Types Naturhist. Mus. Basel; Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L laticrista , broad ridge, referring to the widely expanded frontal lobes.

Diagnosis Major: frontal lobes greatly expanded anteriorly, so that their edges project beyond the lateral head margins in full-face view, and their flat anterior margins just reach the anterior clypeal border; in side view the frontal lobes project downward over the clypeus like thin horns; pronotum greatly enlarged, in dorsal-oblique view 4X higher than the mesonotal convexity, and seen from above more than 2X as wide as the mesonotum; head bicolored (see Color below). Minor: nearly identical to minor of cavifrons (q.v.) except for large eye, as illustrated.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 0.94, HL 1.28, SL 0.22, EL 0.12, PW 0.66. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.56, SL 0.38, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

Color Major: body medium yellow except for anterior dorsal surface of head, which is medium brown.

Minor: concolorous yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

Figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. ARGENTINA: Estacion Sosa, Entre Rios. Scale bar = 1 mm.