Pheidole angulifera, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 371

Pheidole angulifera new species

Types iNBio.

etymology L angulifera , angle-bearer, referring to the prominently angulate humerus.

diagnosis A medium-sized, bicolorous member of the flavens group whose major is distinguished by the prominent "sharkfin" shape of the pronotal humerus in dorsal-oblique view. In this respect it resembles the major of schmalzi of South America but is distinct in the way the angles extend past the lower humeral margins in dorsal view, and in the wider, nearly perfectly semicircular shape of the occipital border. The minor has a much less prominent humeral profile in dorsal-oblique view than that of schmalzi , and the carinulae on the dorsal surface of the head do not extend beyond the eye.

Compare also with arhuaca , boliviana , caulicola , chalca , chalcoides , crinata , flavifrons , mincana , sagana , tambopatae , and tysoni . Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.88, HL 0.92, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.54, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.34.

color Major: yellowish brown; head faintly bicolorous, with head capsule anterior to eye a slightly contrasting dark yellow. Minor: head light brown; gena a slightly contrasting dark yellow; anterior half of mesosoma dark yellow and posterior half yellowish brown.

Range Southern Pacific highlands of Costa Rica (J. T. Longino 1997).

biology Occurs in wet montane forests; the type colony was found nesting in a hard dead branch (Longino 1997).

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: 4 km south of San Vito, Puntarenas, 8A°47TST 82A°58 W, 1200 m (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.