Pheidole caulicola, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 393

Pheidole caulicola new species

Types INBio.

Etymology L caulicola , stem-dwelling, alluding to the nest site.

diagnosis A medium-sized yellow species with cornulate humerus in both major and minor.

Close to arhuaca , but with more prominent humeri, shorter antennal scapes, and narrower, rounder postpetiolar node in both castes as well as smooth central pronotal dorsum in the major.

See also the somewhat less similar sagana , and further removed, chalca , chalcoides , mincana , schmalzi , and tragica .

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.74, HL 0.80, SL 0.40, EL 0.08, PW 0.42.

Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.30.

color Major: concolorous medium yellow.

Minor: concolorous dark yellow.

Range Costa Rica, 500-600 m.

BIOLOGY "Braulio Carrillo National Park (500 m): mature wet forest. Canopy of Licania sp. Colony in dead stick. Rara Avis: fresh treefall in primary forest. In 4-mm-diameter dead stick." (J. T. Longino 1997.)

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. COSTA RICA: 17 km south of Puerto Viejo, Heredia Province, 10A° 18x4 84A°02W, 600 m (J. T. Longino). Scale bars = 1 mm.