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 moffetti
new species
Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.
Etymology Named in honor of the collector and distinguished naturalist Mark W. Moffett.
Diagnosis A medium-large, mostly brown member of the
flavens
group, distinguished in the major by the completely carinulate sculpturing of the dorsal surface of its head, including notably all of the clypeus; the nearly perfect semicircular profde of the promesonotum in side view; trapezoidal postpetiolar node; rugose mesopleuron; and long pilosity; and in the minor by the bicolorous condition of the body. Close to
bidens
and
styrax
, but among other details, lacking teeth on the anterior clypeal border. See also the less similar
nasutoides
and
tennantae
.
Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.04, SL 0.58, EL 0.14, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.54, SL 0.48, EL 0.10, PW 0.34.
Color Major: head medium reddish brown, rest of body medium brown, appendages brownish yellow. Minor: gaster dark brown, rest of body and appendages light reddish brown.
Range Known only from the type series.
Biology Collected along the Kaw Mountains road at the edge of rainforest.
Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. FRENCH GUIANA: Kaw Mountains, 45 km marker (Mark W. Moffett). Scale bars = 1 mm.