Pheidole yucatana, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 608

Pheidole yucatana new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L yucatana , from the Mexican region of the type locality.

diagnosis A member of the " bicarinata complex" of the larger pilifera group, comprising agricola , aurea , barbata , bicarinata , centeotl , cerebrosior , defecta , gilvescens , macclendoni , macrops , marcidula , paiute , pinealis , xerophila , yaqui , and yucatana , which complex is characterized by the large to very large, forward-set eyes in both castes; and, in the major, the occipital lobes lacking any sculpturing (except in aurea ); the posterior half of the head capsule almost entirely smooth and shiny; and the postpetiolar node seen from above oval, elliptical, or laterally subangular (cornulate in cerebrosior ). P. yucatana is distinguished by the following combination of traits.

Major: in side view, promesonotal juncture subangulate; propodeal spines reduced to right angles; occiput sprinkled with sparse but coarse foveae; faint carinulae extend from behind eye to occipital corners; postpetiolar node from above laterally subangulate. Minor: in side view propodeal spines reduced to right angles.

measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.20, SL 0.58, EL 0.10, PW 0.48.

Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.60, SL 0.54, EL 0.14, PW 0.32.

Color Major: body medium reddish brown, appendages light reddish brown.

Minor: body light plain brown, tarsi and tibiae yellow, rest of appendages brownish yellow.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology From a nest in dry soil at roadside. A winged queen was present in the nest on 25 July.

figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 11 km south of Progreso (E. O. Wilson). Scale bars = 1 mm.