Pheidole arachnion ^HNS

Pheidole arachnion Wilson, 2003: 656 ^HNS, figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Costa Rica, Prov. Cartago, Rio Reventazon, 3-5km E Turrialba, 18-22 Jan 1973 (W. L. Brown) [MCZ] (examined).

Pheidole iracunda Wilson, 2003: 712 ^HNS, figs. Holotype major worker and associated paratype minor worker: Costa Rica, Prov. Heredia, La Selva Biological Station (Cover, Moffett, Tobin) [MCZ] (examined). New synonymy.

Geographic Range

Costa Rica.

Biology

This species occurs in wet forest habitats, from sea level to 1100m elevation. Workers, minors and majors, can be moderately abundant in Winkler or Berlese samples of forest floor litter but are rarely collected at baits. The lack of occurence at baits suggests largely nocturnal foraging or foraging restricted to areas beneath litter or in rotten wood. One nest is known, from rotten wood on the forest floor.

Comments

Numerous collections from the Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica show that the differences between P. arachnion ^HNS and P. iracunda ^HNS cited by Wilson (2003) are intraspecific.