Pheidole chocoensis

The type series was collected from a forested mountain slope. A winged queen was present 1–4 June. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama.

Worker
Minor

Images from AntWeb
Major

Nomenclature

 *  chocoensis. Pheidole chocoensis Wilson, 2003: 274, figs. (s.w.) COLOMBIA.

Description
A small, yellow member of the fallax group similar to Pheidole araneoides and Pheidole wallacei, and easily distinguished as follows.

Major: extensive rugoreticulation covers the space between the eye to the frontal carinae and circular carinulae of the antennal fossae; head roughly quadrate, occiput deep; antennal scapes fall short of the occipital lobes by 2X the scapes’ maximal width; mesopleuron and dorsal face of propodeum carinulae; pilosity dense and very long.

Minor: neck and nuchal collar well-developed; basal face of propodeum drops vertically in front to metanotum; mesopleuron carinulate.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.24, SL 1.00, EL 0.20, PW 0.62. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.66, SL 0.98, EL 0.14, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: concolorous medium reddish yellow.

Minor: concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
COLOMBIA: Finca Los Guaduales, 10 km southwest of José del Palmar, Rio Torito, Chocó, 760 m, col. Charles Kugler.

Etymology
Named after the region of the type locality.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
 * Longino J. T., and R. K. Colwell. 2011. Density compensation, species composition, and richness of ants on a neotropical elevational gradient. Ecosphere 2(3): 16pp.
 * Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/