Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.73mm, head width 0.64mm, scape length 0.82mm, Webers length 0.90mm (n=1). In full face view, posterior margin of vertex broadly rounded to slightly flattened or emarginate; no vertex collar; promesonotal and metanotal grooves well impressed; propodeal spines short; face smooth and shiny; pronotum largely smooth and shiny, with band of puncta anteriorly and ventrolaterally; mesonotum smooth and shiny dorsally, foveolate on sides, puncta fading on upper half of anepisternum; propodeum foveolate dorsally and on sides; gaster smooth and shiny; dorsal pilosity moderately abundant, long, flexuous; color dark brown.
Major worker: head length 1.27mm, head width 1.18mm, scape length 0.80mm (n=1). Face shiny throughout; anterior half of face, lateral to frontal carinae, reticulate rugose, remainder of face smooth; hypostomal margin with pair of widely-spaced teeth, teeth long and sharp, located near small recessed teeth flanking mandible; dorsal setae abundant, flexuous; abundant suberect setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
Similar species: Pheidole JTL-006.
Range
Mexico (type locality), Costa Rica. Costa Rica: Santa Rosa, La Pacifica.
Natural History
In Costa Rica and Chiapas, Mexico, this species is known mainly by recruitment to baits. Costa Rican collections have been made at Finca La Pacifica, the headquarters area of Santa Rosa National Park, and the Murcielago campground in Santa Rosa National Park.
Comments
Species that have similar morphometric profiles include dentata, madrensis, cordiceps, nitidula, pampana, and quiaccana. Pheidole dentata has an enlarged postpetiole (minor PPI 166 vs. 129). Pheidole cordiceps is described as being medium yellow. madrensis Wilson, from northern Mexico, looks similar. The other species are from Argentina and Bolivia.
The types of fariasana are from northeastern Mexico. My experience so far is that this species is common at baits in the dry forest parts of Costa Rica and in mid-elevation forest in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, also a seasonally dry area. It could be that this is a generalized, widespread species in dry areas of tropical America, accumulating multiple names in different areas. Or it could be a complex of cryptic species.
Page authors:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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