Pheidole geminata, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 426

Pheidole geminata new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L geminata , pair, twinned, referring to the paired mesosomal setae.

diagnosis Similar to micridris but distinguished from it and other Pheidole species as follows.

Major: head in full-face view quadrate, with Head Width equaling Head Length; eyes set well forward on head; pilosity sparse, especially so on mesosomal dorsum, where it comprises widely and evenly spaced pairs of setae; mesonotal convexity low but well developed in side view; propodeal spines as long as half the propodeal basal face and directed backward; postpetiole oval from above; carinulae limited to eye level on head and anterior to it; all of head, mesosoma, and petiole foveolate.

Minor: eye set far forward on head; posterior half of ventral head profile weakly concave; pilosity sparse, and on mesosomal dorsum

comprising widely and evenly spaced pairs of setae; all of head, mesosoma, and petiole foveolate.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.92, HL 0.92, SL 0.58, EL 0.12, PW 0.42.

Paratype minor (Tinlandia, Ecuador): HW 0.40, HL 0.44, SL 0.42, EL 0.06, PW 0.24.

color Major: body dark brown, mandibles medium brown, other appendages brownish yellow.

Minor: body yellowish brown, appendages dark yellow.

Range Known from the type locality and two localities near Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Pichincha (S. and J. Peck).

Biology The type series is from mossy montane forest, and the 520 m Santo Domingo de las Colorados colony from submontane rainforest. A winged queen from the latter locality was collected on 4 June.

Figure Upper: holotype, major (20-30 km east-northeast of Alluriquin on Chiriboga Road, Pichincha, Ecuador, 1400-1800 m). Lower: paratype, minor (Tinlandia, 16 km southeast of Santo Domingo de Los Colorados, Pichincha, Ecuador, 520 m). Scale bars = 1 mm.