Pheidole gradifer

The type series was collected, by David Olson, in tropical dry forest.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the Costa Rica.

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

Nomenclature

 * gradifer. Pheidole gradifer Wilson, 2003: 613, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA. Junior synonymy of angusticeps: Longino, 2009: 12.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Unique within the punctatissima group in the absence of a mesonotal convexity in the major and the manner in which the promesonotum descends almost vertically in side view to the metanotum. In addition, the major has almost no pilosity on the meso soma or waist; carinulae are present only on the anterior half of the dorsal head surface, but the entire rest of the head, mesosoma, waist, and gastral tergites are foveolate and opaque.

Minor: meso soma trilobous in dorsal-oblique view; carinulae limited to anterior third of dorsal head surface, but all of head, mesosoma, waist, and central strip of first gastral tergite are foveolate and opaque.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.92, HL 1.00, SL 0.64, EL 0.16, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.60, HL 0.64, SL 0.78, EL 0.14, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: concolorous light reddish yellow ("orange").

Minor: dark yellow.



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

Type Material
COSTA RICA: 1 km east of station, Santa Rosa National Park, 280 m, col. David Olson.

Etymology
L gradifer, step-bearing, with reference to the step-like posterior descent.