Pheidole nasutoides

This species is only known from type specimens. Repeated attempts by Hölldobler and Wilson (see 1992) and J. T. Longino (1997. ) to discover additional colonies at and around the type locality have been unsuccessful, suggesting that the species is either very rare or a relatively inaccessible canopy dweller. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
From Wilson (2003): A medium-sized member of the flavens group, whose major possesses 2 teeth (as opposed to the usual 4 or 5) on the hypostoma; uniquely bicolorous head (see below); promesonotum perfectly semicircular in side view and subangular in dorsal-oblique view. Also, the minor is unusual in its narrow occiput with nuchal collar.

Similar to Pheidole defecta of Guatemala (known only from the major caste and placed tentatively in the pilifera group), differing in the shape of promesonotal and propodeal spine, sculpturing, and color.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.80, HL 0.78, SL 0.50, EL 0.12, PW 0.34. Paratype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.54, SL 0.54, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: color medium yellow, except for a light brown “mask” as depicted in the figure; the intensity and shape of the mask varies considerably among the major workers in the type series.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
- as reported in Wilson (2003)

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia (Bert Hölldobler). (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Compound Greek and Latin (“like nasute”), referring to resemblance of the major to a Nasutitermes soldier. (Wilson 2003)