Pheidole rectispina

Occurs on the floor of primary rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Atlantic slope of Costa Rica from lowlands to montane forest (Longino 1997) and Belize (Hummingbird Gap, near Stann, col. S. Peck).

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole bilimeki, Pheidole floridana, Pheidole hazenae, Pheidole rectiluma, Pheidole rectisentis, Pheidole rectitrudis, Pheidole sospes and Pheidole stomachosa, differing as follows.

Major: propodeal spine half as long as propodeal basal face and perpendicular to it; humeri low and subangulate; mesonotal convexity present; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angulate lateral margins; all of dorsal surface of head except occipital lobes, frontal triangle, and midclypeus carinulate; all of mesosoma and most of head and waist foveolate and opaque; anterior fringe of first gastral tergite shagreened.

Minor: propodeal spine half as long as the propodeal face and vertical on it; postpetiolar node somewhat depressed; occiput broad, its margin concave; all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque, no rugoreticulum and almost no carinulae.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.00, HL 1.14, SL 0.56, EL 0.14, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.46, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: dark, even blackish brown.

Minor: body medium brown, appendages yellowish brown.



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia, col. E. O. Wilson.

Etymology
L rectispina, upright spine.

Additional References
Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.