Pheidole olsoni

The holotype was collected in rainforest at a tuna bait; the Chiriquí, Panama, specimens were found in a log. Males were present in the latter colony on 18 August. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Known from the type locality and from El Volcan, Chiriquí, Panama, 1280 m, col. L. Hare. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama.

Castes
This species is known from majors and males.

Nomenclature

 *  olsoni. Pheidole olsoni Wilson, 2003: 478, figs. (s.) COSTA RICA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Known only from the major, easily distinguished by its very small size, elongated head, bicolorous body, protuberant frontal lobe in side view, small propodeal spine, cornulate postpetiole, and unusual pattern of the rugulae mesad to the eye, which travel downward (anteriorly) from the eye obliquely mesad to meet the circular carinulae of the antennal fossae.

Similar to Pheidole browni, Pheidole casta, Pheidole mera, Pheidole prolixa and Pheidole protensa, but easily separated by the above listed traits.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.54, HL 0.74, SL 0.30, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: head, dorsum of alitrunk, petiolar node, and all of postpetiole medium brown; rest of body and all of appendages medium yellow.



'''Figure. Holotype, major. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
COSTA RICA: Refugio de Eladio, Peñas Blancas Valley, Alajuela, 780 m, col. David Olson.

Etymology
Named after the collector David Olson.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
 * Longino J. T., and R. K. Colwell. 2011. Density compensation, species composition, and richness of ants on a neotropical elevational gradient. Ecosphere 2(3): 16pp.
 * Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/