Pheidole hoelldobleri

Longino (1997) states that hoelldobleri “occurs in wet forest habitats, either in the canopy of mature forest or in small trees of young second growth, where it nests opportunistically in cavities in live stems, and in the forks of small trees. It may use accretal soil as nest material.” He obtained specimens by fogging in the canopy of the forest of the La Selva Biological Station, as well as from guava (Psidium) and Cecropia trees along roads and in pastures.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica (Longino 1997)

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
A bicolorous member of the diligens group whose majors have angulate humeri; thin propodeal spines; long, sparse pilosity; rugoreticulum mesad to the eyes; and shagreened anterior fourth of the first gastral tergite. Close to Pheidole coffeicola, but differing in color and many details of sculpturing as shown. Also scan somewhat less similar Pheidole aculifera (in the fallax group), Pheidole mooreorum, Pheidole perdiligens, Pheidole pubiventris, Pheidole sicaria, Pheidole spilota, Pheidole variegata (= Pheidole pubiventris), Pheidole venatrix and Pheidole zelata.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.24, HL 1.24, SL 0.94, EL 0.20, PW 0.56. Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.86, SL 1.06, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: bicolorous, with gaster dark, almost blackish brown and rest of body and appendages dark reddish yellow.

Minor: bicolorous, with gaster medium brown, rest of body and appendages dark brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: Rio Peñas, Alajuela, 950 m (J. T. Longino).

Etymology
Named in honor of the distinguished biologist and student of Costa Rican ants Bert Hölldobler.