Pheidole mooreorum

Majors and minors from the type colony were foraging on the ground in lowland rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Mexico.

Nomenclature

 * fariasana. Pheidole fariasana Wilson, 2003: 155, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of mooreorum: Longino, 2009: 56.
 *  mooreorum. Pheidole mooreorum Wilson, 2003: 209, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO. Senior synonym of fariasana: Longino, 2009: 56.

Description
A member of the diligens group, similar in various characters to Pheidole coffeicola, Pheidole davidsonae, Pheidole gagates, Pheidole hoelldobleri, Pheidole peregrina, Pheidole spilota, Pheidole venatrix and Pheidole zelata, distinguished as follows.

Major: head and body overall richly pilose; sides of head in full-face view relatively straight and parallel; mesonotal convexity prominent, its apex seen from the side tilted forward; humerus in dorsal-oblique view lobose, and pronotum weakly bilobose; postpetiole elliptical from above; rugoreticulum absent from head, and carinulae absent from frontal lobes.

Minor: occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar; dorsal promesonotal profile in dorsal-oblique view smoothly rounded; head and body abundantly pilose.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.12, HL 1.24, SL 0.86, EL 0.20, PW 0.62. Paratype minor: HW 0.66, HL 0.78, SL 0.94, EL 0.14, PW 0.44.

COLOR Major: head and body rich medium reddish brown, appendages light reddish brown.

Minor: head and body plain dark brown; appendages light to yellowish brown except for tarsi, which are yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
MEXICO: Estación Biológica Los Tuxtlas, 10 km north-northwest of Sontecomapan, 18°35'N 95°05'W, 200 m, col. Philip S. Ward.

Etymology
Named in honor of Gordon and Betty Moore, in recognition of their outstanding contribution in service and support to tropical conservation, hence the habitats in which the Pheidole ants will continue to exist.

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