Pheidole gradifer

From Wilson (2003): The type series was collected in tropical dry forest (David Olson).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
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 Locality Information
COSTA RICA: 1 km east of station, Santa Rosa National Park, 280 m (David Olson).

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