Pheidole inermis Mayr ^HNS

Pheidole inermis Mayr ^HNS 1870b: 984. Types Naturhist. Mus. Wien.

Etymology L inermis ^HNS, unarmed, referring to the absence of propodeal spines.

Diagnosis Distinguished from all other members of the biconstricta ^HNS group and most of Pheidole ^HNS species by the absence of propodeal spines in the major and minor. In full-face view, occipital cleft of major relatively shallow, occipital lobes tending toward subangulate.

Measurements (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.84, HL 1.72, SL 1.06, EL 0.24, PW 0.84. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.80, HL 0.94, SL 1.10, EL 0.14, PW 0.54.

Color Major: most of body light reddish brown, with mandibles, postpetiole, and gaster medium reddish brown. Minor: gaster medium brown, rest of body light reddish brown.

range I have verified series of inermis ^HNS from Veracruz, Mexico (Cuichapa, 1600 m); Honduras (Mina El Mochito, Santa Barbara, 1040 m; Lago Yojoa, Cortes, 700 m); and Nicaragua (Matagalpa, 1200+ m).

Biology The species has been collected in montane forest, in one case (Mina El Mochito, Honduras) from rotting wood.

figure Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. MEXICO (no further data; Edward Norton, 1860s). Scale bars = 1 mm.