Pheidole hizemops

Specimens, some at baits, were recovered from leaf litter in montane rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Mountain forests of west-central Costa Rica, 1300–1600 m (Longino 1997).

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
A small species sharing some traits, especially a moderately prominent mesonotal convexity, with Pheidole kuna, Pheidole micon, Pheidole tayrona and Pheidole tenebra of Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, and less so with [[Pheidole breviseta, Pheidole bruchella and Pheidole lignicola'' of Argentina and southern Brazil, but differing in details of sculpturing as shown, and especially in the eye of the major, which is placed farther forward on the head and has a concave posterior border.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.70, HL 0.76, SL 0.44, EL 0.14, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.50, HL 0.54, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: waist and gaster light brown; rest of body and appendages reddish yellow (“orange”), with tarsi medium yellow.

Minor: reddish yellow (“orange”).



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: 2.5 km northwest of Santa Elena, Puntarenas Province, 10°20'N 84°50'W, 1500 m (R. Burtoft).

Etymology
Gr hizema, sinking, and ops, eye.