Pheidole agricola, Wilson, E. O., 2003

Wilson, E. O., 2003, Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus., Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press : 556

Pheidole agricola new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L agricola , field-dweller, referring to the collection site of the type series.

Diagnosis A distinctive member of the pilifera group recognizable by the following combination of traits. Major: reddish yellow; medium-sized; with dense, very long, erect to suberect pilosity on the dorsal surface of the body; prominent, broad semicircular notch in anterior clypeal border; relatively long, thin propodeal spines, faintly bilobed pronotal profile in dorsaloblique view; carinulae confined on head to the anterior third, and elsewhere to the anterior half of the pronotal dorsum; rest of body smooth and shiny.

Minor: light brown; pilosity of dorsal surface of body abundant, very long, and erect to suberect; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; body almost completely smooth and shiny.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.38, SL 0.66, EL 0.16, PW 0.54.

Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.60, SL 0.60, EL 0.12, PW 0.34.

Color Major: concolorous reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous light brown.

Range Known only from the type locality.

Biology The colony was found in an agricultural field created by clear-cutting and burning.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 24 km southwest of Cintalpa, Chiapas, 710 m (William P. MacKay). Scale bars = 1 mm.