Pheidole savegre

This species occurs in lowland to lower montane wet forest. Most collections are from ground baits. One worker is from a beating sample.

Identification
Minor: face smooth and shining; head somewhat tapering posteriorly; occipital carina weakly developed; promesonotal groove present, distinctly impressed; lateral pronotum smooth and shiny; katepisternum uniformly foveate; propodeal spines long, similar in length to posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; abundant, coarse, dark, erect setae on mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum; color yellow.

Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, in form of short points, in front of outer hypostomal teeth; scape base subterete, narrower than apical portion; face with irregular rugulae anteriorly, entire face with faint foveolate sculpture; promesonotal groove impressed; propodeal spines about half length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum faintly foveolate on anterior half; abundant, erect, flexuous setae on face, sides of head, mesosomal dorsum, tibiae, and gastral dorsum.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.73, HL 0.95, SL 1.32, EL 0.19, WL 1.25, PSL 0.24, PTW 0.15, PPW 0.21, CI 77, SI 180, PSLI 33, PPI 142 (n=2).

Measurements, major worker: HW 1.61, HL 1.70, SL 1.38, EL 0.26, WL 1.69, PSL 0.23, PTW 0.28, PPW 0.40, CI 95, SI 86, PSLI 15, PPI 145 (n=2).

See comments under Pheidole tinamu. The measurements and general habitus are very similar to Pheidole musacolor from the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica. Pheidole savegre has coarser, darker setae, and the major has a more heavily sculptured face.

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

Minor
Images from AntWeb

Nomenclature

 *  savegre. Pheidole savegre Longino, 2019: 56, fig. 55 (w.) COSTA RICA.

Type Material

 * HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Costa Rica, San José: Ranchos Tinamu, 9.4889 -83.95586 ±100m, 790m, 13-Jul-2015, montane wet forest, near streams, at bait (ADMAC, Ba-E-08-2-03-11) [MUCR, unique specimen identifier CASENT0646332].
 * PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [MUCR]; Costa Rica, San José: 2km ESE Ranchos Tinamu, 9.48543 -83.93936 ±100m, 490m, 10-Jul-2015, mature rainforest, edge of forest near pasture and agricultural land, steep rocky terrain, at bait (ADMAC, Ba-E-07-3-04-14) [CAS, MCZC, USNM]; same data except Ba-E-07-3-04-01 [JTLC].

Etymology
From the type locality (Río Savegre area).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American wet forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1-126