Pheidole iceni

The type workers were collected during the day in lowland rainforest.

Identification
Fernández (2011) - With the general habitus of Pheidole fiorii in the Pheidole fallax group. Minor worker: head smooth and shining versus foveolated and opaque / subopaque (fiorii); side of propodeum smooth and shining versus with some foveolated (fiorii); metanotal groove deeply impressed versus shallowly impressed (fiorii). Major worker: dorsal surface of mandible flat to weakly convex versus with broad concavity covering basal half of dorsal surface (Pheidole fossimandibula); clypeus with large setal tufts in the form of pompons versus smooth and flat (Pheidole vestita) or with weak gibbosities (fossimandibula), setae sparse to abundant but not in form of pompons (fossimandibula, vestita); face between frontal carinae with large hemispherical concavity versus simple, typically convex (fossimandibula, vestita).

The smooth and shining head, well developed occipital carinae, and long, downturned propodeal spines differentiate the minor worker of this species of any other in the genus and fallax group. P. fiorii is near to this species, but with clear differences (see above), including setae (shorter in iceni) and color (light brown in iceni) and smooth and shining pronotum, sides of petiole (variably foveolated in fiorii).

Distribution
Chocó, Colombia.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  iceni. Pheidole iceni Fernández, 2011: 666, figs. 1, 2 (s.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Minor. (paratype): HL 0.90, HW 0.65, HLA 0.33, SL 1.18, EL 0.14, ML 1.24, PSL 0.36, PMG 0.05, SPL 0.037, PTW 0.13, PPW 0.21, CI 72, SI 182, PSLI 40, PMGI 5.5, SPLI 4.1, PPI 162.

Mandible and clypeus smooth and shining; three spaced concentric rugae around antennal insertion, otherwise face smooth and shining; posterior margin of vertex rounded; occipital carina well developed, visible in full face view; scape with abundant erect setae as long as maximum width of scape and abundant reclined setae; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove deeply impressed; propodeal spines long, thin, downturned; promesonotum smooth and shining; katepisternum and lateral and dorsal faces of propodeum with irregular rugulae; abundant setae (around 0.15 mm length or less) on all body; dorsal (outer) margin of hind tibia with abundant suberect setae longer than maximum width of tibia; first gastral tergum smooth and shining; color light brown.

Major. (holotype): HL 1.73, HW 1.36, HLA 0.41, SL 0.61, EL 0.22, ML 1.41, PSL 0.05, PMG 0.00, SPL 0.07, PTW 0.29, PPW 0.49, IHT 0.25, OHT 0.54, CI 79, SI 45, PSLI 3, PMGI 0, SPLI 4, PPI 168, HTI 45.

Mandible smooth and shining, somewhat flattened dorsally, with abundant piligerous punctae and an even covering of long decumbent yellow setae; clypeus with two large, horn-like gibbosities, but these covered from view by prominent tufts of yellow setae that are erect at base, densely clustered on gibbosities like sheaves of wheat, and then curve and become matted distally, forming globose pompons; frontal carinae slanting obliquely outward posteriorly, forming dorsal margins of prominent antennal scrobes, ventral margin of scrobe not sharply defined; scrobe, side of head, and vertex lobes coarsely reticulate rugose; area between frontal carinae and entire middle of face with a deep hemispherical concavity; anterior portion of concavity with dense layer of minute piligerous puncta from which arises a dense, short, yellow pubescence; posterior portion of concavity grading into regular concentric rugae with somewhat longer pubescence; rim of concavity with long, whisker-like setae laterally and posteriorly, basket-like; rest of face and sides of head with abundant erect setae; scape microsculptured and dull, not shining, terete at base, with abundant erect setae longer than maximum width of scape; hypostomal margin straight; median tooth small; inner hypostomal teeth pointed, stout, about one half distance from midline to outer hypostomal teeth; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines present; pronotum with reticulate rugae on humerus, sparse transverse carinulae anterolaterally, otherwise generally smooth and shining; rest of mesosoma generally shining, with some irregular rugulae and foveolae; dorsal (outer) margin of hind tibia with abundant suberect setae longer than maximum width of tibia; pilosity abundant on mesosomal dorsum; postpetiole in dorsal view strongly lenticular, much broader than long; first gastral tergite with small patch of longitudinal etched microsculpture near postpetiolar insertion, smooth and shining elsewhere, with abundant long erect yellowish setae; color dark red brown.

Etymology
The name is in reference to the 75th anniversary of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C. Througout its history the ICN has contributed greatly to the study and understanding of the biological diversity of Colombia and the Neotropics as a whole.