Pheidole angulifera

Occurs in wet montane forests; the type colony was found nesting in a hard dead branch (Longino 1997).

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Southern Pacific highlands of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).

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

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  angulifera. Pheidole angulifera Wilson, 2003: 371, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Description
A medium-sized, bicolorous member of the flavens group whose major is distinguished by the prominent “sharkfin” shape of the pronotal humerus in dorsal-oblique view. In this respect it resembles the major of Pheidole schmalzi of South America but is distinct in the way the angles extend past the lower humeral margins in dorsal view, and in the wider, nearly perfectly semicircular shape of the occipital border. The minor has a much less prominent humeral profile in dorsal-oblique view than that of schmalzi, and the carinulae on the dorsal surface of the head do not extend beyond the eye.

Compare also with Pheidole arhuaca, Pheidole boliviana, Pheidole caulicola, Pheidole chalca, Pheidole nitidicollis, Pheidole crinita, Pheidole flavifrons, Pheidole mincana, Pheidole sagana, Pheidole tambopatae and Pheidole tysoni.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.88, HL 0.92, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.46. Paratype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.54, SL 0.40, EL 0.06, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: yellowish brown; head faintly bicolorous, with head capsule anterior to eye a slightly contrasting dark yellow.

Minor: head light brown; gena a slightly contrasting dark yellow; anterior half of mesosoma dark yellow and posterior half yellowish brown.



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

Type Material
COSTA RICA: 4 km south of San Vito, Puntarenas, 8°47'N 82°58'W, 1200 m, col. J. T. Longino.

Etymology
L angulifera, angle-bearer, referring to the prominently angulate humerus.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Donoso D. A. 2014. Assembly mechanisms shaping tropical litter ant communities. Ecography 37 doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.00253.x