Pheidole cusuco

This species occurs in cloud forest, where it can be locally abundant. Minor and major workers recruit to ground baits, but are infrequently collected in Winkler samples of sifted litter and rotten wood.

Identification
Minor: sculpture of variable strength; strongest with face fully foveolate, overlain with faint rugulae, pronotal dorsum foveolate overlain with distinct reticulate rugulae, lateral pronotum fully foveolate; weakest with weak foveolation and medial shiny spaces on face, pronotal dorsum foveolate with shiny patches, lateral pronotum largely smooth and shiny; katepisternum always foveolate; head somewhat elongate but rounded posteriorly; promesonotal groove distinctly impressed; propodeal spines about one fifth length of posterior face of propodeum; first gastral tergite smooth and shining; abundant erect setae on mesosomal and gastral dorsum, tibiae; color brown.

Major: inner hypostomal teeth widely spaced, acicular; scape base terete; face with faint foveolation overlain with reticulate rugulae on anterior half, a few longitudinal carinulae on anteromedian frons, rest of face smooth and shiny; propodeal spines about one third length of posterior face of propodeum; first gastral tergite smooth and shiny; sides of head with abundant erect setae; mesosomal and gastral dorsum, tibiae with abundant erect setae.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.66, HL 0.78, SL 0.96, EL 0.15, WL 1.02, PSL 0.05, PTW 0.12, PPW 0.18, CI 86, SI 144, PSLI 8, PPI 144 (n=3).

Measurements, major worker: HW 1.13, HL 1.17, SL 0.97, EL 0.19, WL 1.24, PSL 0.07, PTW 0.19, PPW 0.28, CI 97, SI 86, PSLI 6, PPI 148 (n=2).

DNA barcoding places this species very close to Pheidole luteagossamer. The two species are parapatric, with P. cusuco occurring in southern Guatemala and northern Honduras, and P. luteagossamer occurring from central Honduras to northern Nicaragua. The two species differ in color (P. cusuco is brown, P. luteagossamer is yellow) and the distinctive silky pilosity of the major worker of P. luteagossamer.

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

Nomenclature

 *  cusuco. Pheidole cusuco Longino, 2019: 32, fig. 51 (w.) HONDURAS.

Type Material

 * HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Honduras, Cortés: PN Cusuco, 15.48965 -88.23383 ±55 m, 1300 m, 31-May-2010, mesophyll forest, at bait (LLAMA, Ba-C-06-1-02-03) [MCZC, unique specimen identifier CASENT0617747].
 * PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [MCZC]; same data except Ba-C-06-1-02-08 [CAS]; Ba-C-06-1-02-11 [USNM]; 15.49037 -88.23402 ±70 m, 1330 m (Ba-C-06-1-03-06) [DZUP]; 15.49076 -88.23446 ±40 m, 1360 m, (Ba-C-06-1-04-05) [JTLC].

Etymology
From the type locality.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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