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 hortonae
new species
Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology Named in honor of Kathleen M. Horton, expert and indispensable contributor to the preparation of this
Pheidole
monograph.
diagnosis Similar to
antillana
of the lesser Antilles and
avia
,
bucculenta
,
guilelmimuelleri
,
hetschkoi
,
heyeri
,
mamore
,
praeses
, and
rhytifera
of South America, differing in the following combination of traits.
Major: antennal lobe prominent above clypeus in side view; pilosity on dorsal surface of body long, erect to suberect, and very dense, with many of those on pronotum curving backward and many of those on mesonotum curving forward; patch of rugoreticulum present laterad to antennal fossa; rear half of head capsule smooth and shiny; pronotal dorsum mostly rugoreticulate, and dorsum of mesonotum smooth and shiny.
Minor: posterior half of the head and all of the mesosomal dorsum rugoreticulate; pilosity long, erect to suberect, and very dense, with hairs on the pronotal dorsum curving backward and those on the mesonotum curving forward. measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.60, HL 1.66, SL 0.70, EL 0.18, PW 0.84. Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.70, EL 0.12, PW 0.48.
color Major: body and mandibles medium reddish brown, other appendages brownish yellow. Minor: body medium brown, appendages light brown except for tarsi, which are yellow.
range Known only from the type locality.
Biology In rainforest.
figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. VENEZUELA: Estado Aragua, Rancho Grande, 1100 m (William L. and Doris E. Brown). Scale bars = 1 mm.