Pheidole muralla

This species occurs in cloud forest. It is most often collected at baits and in Winkler samples. A nest entrance was observed in a nearly vertical clay bank on a road edge in mature cloud forest. It was a tiny circular hole on the bank with a tongue-shaped apron of clay extending below the hole. The apron was covered with white dots that looked like fungal masses. The observation was at night, and a few minor workers were out on surface around hole. One of them was observed picking up one of the white particles. Excavation to about 10cm deep failed to locate chambers.

Identification
Minor: face smooth and shining; promesonotum smooth and shining; katepisternum mostly smooth and shining, posterior margin with thin strip of sculpture; faint foveolation on lower portion of side of propodeum, upper portion and dorsal face smooth and shining; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines about one half length of posterior face of propodeum; gaster smooth and shining; mesosomal dorsum and gaster with abundant short setae; tibiae with abundant, short, subdecumbent setae; color dark brown, tibiae lighter yellow brown.

Major: inner hypostomal teeth prominent, closely spaced; scape base terete; head subrectangular; antennal scrobes weakly impressed, delimited by carinulae; posteromedian head and vertex lobes depressed (conspicuous in lateral view); face generally shiny, with smooth interspaces and prominent carinulae, these longitudinal anterolaterally, forming transverse arcs medially, and reticulate on vertex lobes; propodeal spines about one half length of posterior face of propodeum; gastral dorsum smooth and shining; sides of head with abundant erect setae; dorsal mesosoma and gaster with abundant flexuous erect setae; tibiae with abundant, scruffy, suberect setae; color similar to minor worker.

Measurements, minor worker: HW 0.47, HL 0.51, SL 0.45, EL 0.11, WL 0.62, PSL 0.04, PTW 0.09, PPW 0.13, CI 93, SI 96, PSLI 9, PPI 152 (n=5).

Measurements, major worker: HW 0.87, HL 0.99, SL 0.47, EL 0.14, WL 0.89, PSL 0.08, PTW 0.17, PPW 0.31, CI 88, SI 54, PSLI 10, PPI 179 (n=5).

The minor worker of this species is similar to Pheidole albipes but larger (mean HW 0.47 vs. 0.37), and the major worker is similar to Pheidole janzeni but with longer propodeal spines (mean PSLI 10 vs. 1).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guatemala, Honduras.

Nomenclature

 *  muralla. Pheidole muralla Longino, 2019: 47, fig. 17 (w.) HONDURAS.

Type Material

 * HOLOTYPE: 1 major worker, Honduras, Olancho: PN La Muralla, 15.09707 -86.73684 ±50 m, 1500 m, 4-May-2010, cloud forest stream edge, at bait (J. Longino, JTL6990.1) [MCZC, unique specimen identifier CASENT0615595].
 * PARATYPES: major, minor workers: same data as holotype [CAS, JTLC, MCZC]; same data except 15.09609 -86.73297 ±30 m, 1610 m, cloud forest, at bait (LLAMA, Ba-C-01-1-03-09) [USNM]; 15.0959 -86.73233 ±60 m, 1600 m (LLAMA, Ba-C-01-1-05-04) [DZUP]; 15.09544 -86.73873 ±60 m, 1440 m (LLAMA, Ba-C-01-2-03-07) [JTLC].

Etymology
From the type locality.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. 2019. Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Middle American wet forest. Zootaxa 4599: 1-126