Pheidole rectispina

Occurs on the floor of primary rainforest. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Atlantic slope of Costa Rica from lowlands to montane forest (Longino 1997) and Belize (Hummingbird Gap, near Stann, col. S. Peck).

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Nomenclature

 *  rectispina. Pheidole rectispina Wilson, 2003: 495, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole bilimeki, Pheidole floridana, Pheidole hazenae, Pheidole rectiluma, Pheidole rectisentis, Pheidole rectitrudis, Pheidole sospes and Pheidole stomachosa, differing as follows.

Major: propodeal spine half as long as propodeal basal face and perpendicular to it; humeri low and subangulate; mesonotal convexity present; postpetiole from above elliptical, with angulate lateral margins; all of dorsal surface of head except occipital lobes, frontal triangle, and midclypeus carinulate; all of mesosoma and most of head and waist foveolate and opaque; anterior fringe of first gastral tergite shagreened.

Minor: propodeal spine half as long as the propodeal face and vertical on it; postpetiolar node somewhat depressed; occiput broad, its margin concave; all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque, no rugoreticulum and almost no carinulae.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.00, HL 1.14, SL 0.56, EL 0.14, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.44, HL 0.50, SL 0.46, EL 0.08, PW 0.30.

COLOR Major: dark, even blackish brown.

Minor: body medium brown, appendages yellowish brown.



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia, col. E. O. Wilson.

Etymology
L rectispina, upright spine.

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