Pheidole noar

Discovered by Philip S. Ward foraging on the ground in the Cabo Rojo coastal desert. Its pale color suggests that this surprising species is probably nocturnal. A male was collected with the type colony (9 September). (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: Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles.

Worker
minor

Nomenclature

 *  noar. Pheidole noar Wilson, 2003: 210, figs. (s.w.) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

Description
A member of the diligens group, somewhat similar to Pheidole accinota, Pheidole alpestris and Pheidole cameroni of South America, but very distinct from these and other species of the group in the following combination of traits.

Major: body concolorous yellow, appendages pale yellow; eye pear-shaped, coming to a small point at its anterior edge; propodeal spine half as long as the basal propodeal face; body almost entirely smooth and shiny.

Minor: pale yellow; propodeal spine thin, needle-like; humerus in dorsal-oblique view denticulate; body almost completely smooth and shiny; carinulae completely absent from head and body, including antennal fossae.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.04, HL 1.10, SL 0.70, EL 0.20, PW 0.50. Paratype minor: HW 0.42, HL 0.48, SL 0.60, EL 0.10, PW 0.28.

COLOR Major: concolorous yellow, mandibles brownish yellow, other appendages pale yellow.

Minor: body and appendages concolorous pale yellow.



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

Type Material
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Cabo Rojo, 17°54'N 71°40'W, 5 m, col. Philip S. Ward.

Etymology
Gr noar, phantom.