Pheidole erethizon ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

etymology NL erethizon ^HNS, porcupine, referring to the very long, bristly pilosity of the major and minor.

Diagnosis A member of the crassicornis ^HNS group characterized in both the major and minor by exceptionally dense, long hair (reaching an extreme in the gastral pilosity of the major); and entire head (except frontal triangle and central piece of clypeus), mesosoma, and waist foveolate and opaque. In addition, the minor is unusual within the crassicornis ^HNS group in possessing a narrowed occiput seen in full-face view, yet nevertheless lacking a nuchal collar.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.34, SL 0.92, EL 0.22, PW 0.64.

Paratype minor: HW 0.58, HL 0.70, SL 0.86, EL 0.16, PW 0.42.

color Major: concolorous medium yellow with a very slight reddish tinge.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.

range Recorded from the type locality (Michoacan); Azizintla, Guerrero; and Miacatlan, Morelos.

biology Unknown.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: San Jose Purua, Michoacan (A. b. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.