Pheidole lagunculinoda

This species occurs in lowland to mid-elevation wet forest. Minor workers have been collected at baits. One major worker has been collected, at a bait along with minor workers.

Identification
With a unique morphometric profile. Minor worker: the most distinctive character is the postpetiole, which is much longer than wide in dorsal view and flask-shaped. The postpetiole shape combined with large size and foveolate face should distinguish it from all other species. Major worker: head subrectangular versus with sides more convex and posterior margin more cordate (Pheidole bulliceps, Pheidole galba, Pheidole gigas, Pheidole hirsuta, Pheidole huacana); vertex lobes foveolate overlain by reticulate rugulae versus with arcing subparallel rugae (Pheidole arcifera, Pheidole rhea) or relatively smooth and shining (Pheidole astur, Pheidole auropilosa, Pheidole bergi, Pheidole geraesensis, huacana, Pheidole oxyops, Pheidole trageri); base of scape terete versus flattened (Pheidole claviscapa); propodeal spines long versus short (Pheidole tigris, trageri); first gastral tergite shallowly foveolate anteriorly, grading to smooth and shining posteriorly, versus more uniformly foveolate, opaque (Pheidole vorax). (Longino 2009)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guatemala, Mexico.

Worker
Minor

Images from AntWeb
Major

Nomenclature

 *  lagunculinoda. Pheidole lagunculinoda Longino, 2009: 48, fig. 12 (s.w.) MEXICO.

Worker
Minor Measurements (holotype): HL 0.87, HW 0.73, HLA 0.34, SL 1.20, EL 0.15, ML 1.25, PSL 0.20, PMG 0.01, SPL 0.04, PTW 0.13, PPW 0.23, CI 84, SI 164, PSLI 24, PMGI 1, SPLI 4, PPI 182.

Measurements (n=10): HL 0.82-0.90, HW 0.72-0.80, SL 1.10-1.28, CI 84-89, SI 152-167.

Mandible longitudinally striate basally, grading to smooth and shining near masticatory margin; clypeus weakly foveolate rugulose; face shallowly foveolate; margin of vertex rounded; occipital carina well developed as a distinct flange, visible in full face view; scape with abundant erect setae, longest subequal in length to maximum width of scape; promesonotal groove weakly impressed, indistinct; propodeal spines present, long; entire mesosoma foveolate, overlain with weak transverse rugulae on promesonotal dorsum; abundant setae on promesonotal dorsum; dorsal (outer) margin of hind tibia with abundant erect setae, longest longer than maximum width of tibia; postpetiole in dorsal view much longer than wide, flask-shaped, tapering anteriorly; first gastral tergum smooth and shining; gastral dorsum with abundant erect setae; color brown.

Major Measurements (paratype): HL 2.31, HW 2.16, HLA 0.59, SL 1.16, EL 0.25, ML 1.76, PSL 0.30, PMG 0.04, SPL 0.07, PTW 0.32, PPW 0.66, IHT 0.42, OHT 0.95, CI 93, SI 54, PSLI 13, PMGI 2, SPLI 3, PPI 205, HTI 44.

Mandible with coarse longitudinal striae basally, grading to smooth and shining over most of dorsal surface, dorsal surface with medium density of large puncta, puncta lacking setae (or with very short appressed setae) over most of dorsal surface; clypeus shining, with median carinule, 3-4 longitudinal carinules beneath each frontal carina, weakly wrinkled elsewhere; entire face foveolate overlain by reticulate rugulae, rugulae becoming coarser and more longitudinally parallel anteriorly and between frontal carinae; scrobe absent; basal half of scape strongly curved, scape terete, irregularly rugulose, with abundant erect setae longer than maximum width of scape; hypostomal margin flat; median tooth a broad gibbosity; inner hypostomal teeth stout, closer to midline than to outer hypostomal teeth; with abundant erect setae projecting from sides of head in full face view; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines present; mesosoma shallowly foveolate overlain with reticulate rugulae; dorsal (outer) margin of hind tibia with abundant erect setae longer than maximum width of tibia; pilosity abundant on mesosomal dorsum; postpetiole in dorsal view transverse, with strongly-developed lateral conules; first gastral tergite shallowly foveolate anteriorly, grading to smooth and shining posteriorly, with abundant flexuous erect setae; color brown.

Type Material
Holotype minor worker. Mexico, Chiapas: 21km SW Salto de Agua, 17.38542°N 92.42802°W, ±200m, 180m, 15 Jun 2008 (LLAMA#Ba-A-08-4-03-17) UNAM, unique specimen identifier CASENT0609878.

Paratypes: major and minor workers. Same data as holotype; same data as holotype but LLAMA#Ba-A-08-3-02-16, Ba-A-08-4-03-08; Mexico, Chiapas: 8km SE Salto de Agua, 17.51427°N 92.29486°W, ±200m, 70m, 16 Jun 2008 (LLAMA#Ba-A-08-1-01-13, Ba-A-08-1-02-02, -11, -17, -19), , EAPZ, , , , , , , , , , ICN,.

Etymology
The name is in reference to the elongate, flask-shaped postpetiole.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133