Pheidole ursus

The Teoviscocla minor worker figured was collected in tropical forest with plantings of coffee. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
In addition to the types (from "Mexico") I have seen a minor worker from near Cuichapa, Veracruz, collected at 1600 m (Wilson 2003). Also known from Costa Rica.

This taxon was described from Mexico.

Nomenclature

 *  ursus. Pheidole ursus Mayr, 1870b: 986 (s.w.) MEXICO. Senior synonym of cressoni, gracilinoda: Brown, 1981: 528. See also: Wilson, 2003: 773.
 * cressoni. Macromischa cressoni André, 1887: 296 (w.) MEXICO. Combination in Aphaenogaster: Emery, 1896a: 103; in Pheidole: Emery, 1915d: 67. Junior synonym of ursus: Brown, 1981: 528.
 * gracilinoda. Pheidole ursus var. gracilinoda Forel, 1904d: 172 (w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of ursus: Brown, 1981: 528.

Description
From Wilson (2003): DIAGNOSIS A very large, unique species similar in various traits to Pheidole horribilis, Pheidole minax, Pheidole terribilis and Pheidole macromischoides.

Major: very long propodeal spine, largely rugoreticulate surface of the meso soma and dorsal surface of the head, shallowly concave profile of the posterior half of the head in side view, completely foveolate and opaque surfaces of the gastral tergites.

Minor: extremely long propodeal spine and petiolar peduncle, rugoreticulate promesonotum, and somewhat narrowed occiput with a thin nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Syntype major: HW 2.64, HL 2.54, SL 1.22, EL 0.26, PW 1.02. Minor: HW 0.88, HL 0.86, SL 1.00, EL 0.18, PW 0.60.

COLOR Major: body and appendages dark to blackish brown.

Minor: body concolorous blackish brown with reddish overtones; appendages, including mandibles, a lighter shade of medium reddish brown; tarsi yellowish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: syntype, major. Mexico, no further locality (collected by "Prof. Bilimek"). Lower: minor. MEXICO: Santa Teoviscocia, near Cuichapa, Veracruz, 1600 m (col. Cornell University Mexico Field Party, August 1960). Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
and - as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
Mexico, col. Prof. Bilimek (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
L ursus, bear, undoubtedly alluding to the large, rough-surface properties and dark color of the major. (Wilson 2003)

Additional References
Mayr, G. 1870. Neue Formiciden. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 20: 939–996.

Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.