Pheidole spathicornis ^HNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L spathicornis ^HNS, broad-bladed horn, referring to the scape.

diagnosis A member of the crassicornis ^HNS group, most resembling guerrerana, and differing from that and other species of the group by the following combination of traits.

Major: rugoreticulum on head extends mesad to eye anteriorly half way to the anterior genal border and posteriorly nearly halfway to the occipital borders; a loosed, ladder-like rugoreticulum also extends along the midline of the dorsal surface of the head capsule from the occiput halfway to the frontal triangle; pilosity very long and dense; postpetiole from above oval, not laterally angulate. Minor: humerus in dorsal-oblique view subangulate; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; petiolar node from side tapers to a point; occiput broad, and nuchal collar absent.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.26, HL 1.38, SL 0.82, EL 0.18, PW 0.64. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.75, SL 0.80, EL 0.14, PW 0.40. Color Major: concolorous reddish yellow.

Minor: head and gaster plain light brown; mesosoma, waist, and appendages yellowish brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology Unknown.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: Villa Santiago, Cola de Caballo, Morelos (Francisco Perez d.). Scale bars = 1 mm.