Pheidole excubitor

Colonies nest beneath epiphytes in lowland rainforest (Longino 1997).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).

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

Nomenclature

 *  excubitor. Pheidole excubitor Wilson, 2003: 687, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A large, striking, bicolored member ofthe tristis group, with both major and minor possessing short, sparse, erect pilosity and a prominent humerus that rises far above the relatively flat promesonotum in dorsal-oblique view. Mesonotal convexity greatly reduced in major and absent in minor. In both castes, postpetiolar node seen from above bell-shaped, and prominent rounded postpetiolar process present.

Similar to Pheidole alpinensis, Pheidole exarata, Pheidole germaini, Pheidole grandinodus, Pheidole obrima, Pheidole rogeri, Pheidole severini, Pheidole stulta, Pheidole tristis and Pheidole zoster, differing in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity as illustrated, and in color.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.56, HL 1.74, SL 0.84, EL 0.20, PW 0.80. Paratype minor: HW 0.70, HL 0.74, SL 0.76, EL 0.16, PW 0.46.

COLOR Major: waist and gaster blackish brown, contrasting with the yellowish red of the remainder of the body; appendages a darker shade of reddish yellow.

Minor: gaster medium brown, contrasting with the reddish yellow ofthe rest ofthe body and appendages.



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

Type Material
COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Pueblo Nuevo, Heredia, 150 m, col. John T. Longino.

Etymology
L excubitor, guard, sentinel.