Pheidole spathipilosa

Evidently a rare species. During intensive and independent bouts of collecting at the La Selva Biological Station, Stefan Cover and John T. Longino each found it only once. I later returned to the same spot in the forest where Cover collected the holotype nest series, and despite a close search in the vicinity failed to discover another colony. Males were present with the holotype series, on 27 March. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
A unique species of the fallax group somewhat similar to members of the “jujuyensis complex” comprising Pheidole araneoides, Pheidole cuevasi, Pheidole durionei, Pheidole jujuyensis, Pheidole kugleri, Pheidole leonina, Pheidole leptina, Pheidole lucretii, Pheidole lupus, Pheidole paraensis, Pheidole punctithorax, Pheidole tijucana, Pheidole wallacei and Pheidole wolfringi, but easily distinguished as follows.

Major: clavate hairs present on occipital margin, as depicted; antennal scape slightly exceeds occipital corner in full-face view; widely spaced carinulae cover the outer halves of the frontal lobes and all of the posterior dorsal half of the head, including the occiput; pronotal dorsum foveolate and bearing scattered, short carinulae and rugulae; first gastral tergite weakly shagreened.

Minor: pilosity sparse, with many of the hairs along the dorsal profile of the head and body clavate; entire head and body foveolate; anterior third of first gastral tergite shagreened; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar.

Both castes are tricolorous (see below).

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.94, HL 0.96, SL 0.78, EL 0.18, PW 0.54. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.70, SL 0.92, EL 0.18, PW 0.40.

COLOR Major: tricolorous, with head and waist medium reddish brown, mesosoma and appendages light reddish brown, and gaster very dark brown.

Minor: tricolorous, with head and gaster dark reddish brown (gaster very dark), dorsum of pronotum and waist medium reddish brown, and mesosoma and appendages light reddish brown.



'''Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia (Stefan Cover).

Etymology
L spathipilosa, paddle-haired; see distinctive clavate hairs.