Pheidole in the New World. A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus.
Author
Wilson, E. O.
text
2003
Harvard University Press
Cambridge, MA
http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/reference-full.html?id=20017
book
20017
Pheidole setsukoae
new species
Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology Named after Barbara Setsuko Hamton.
diagnosis A member of the
pilifera
group uniquely distinguished within not just
Pheidole
but ants as a whole by the phragmotic condition of the occiput of the major, as illustrated. Also distinctive in the major, although not unique, are the lack of hypostomal dentition; the high, smoothly rounded outline of the promesonotum in side view; the dense parallel longitudinal carinulae that radiate from the antennal fossae and antennal lobes to the sides of the head; and the conulate postpetiolar node. The minor is typical of the "
bicarinata
complex" (see under
bicarinata
).
measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.38, HL 1.54, SL 0.62, EL 0.14, PW 0.76. Paratype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.54, SL 0.60, EL 0.12, PW 0.30.
color Major: concolorous clear yellow with a very slight orange tinge ("light orange").
Minor: clear medium yellow; dorsal surface of head slightly infuscated, i.e., dark yellow to light brownish yellow.
Range Known only from the type locality.
biology Robert J. Hamton (in litt. 1990): the majors and minors were foraging in a single file to dead moths at a blacklight (ultraviolet light used to attract insects).
Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. MEXICO: 59 km north of Culiacan, Sinaloa (Robert J. Hamton). Scale bars = 1 mm.