Pheidole boruca

Longino (1997): very common in Winkler samples from mature wet forest, from 50 m elevation at La Selva Biological Station to cloud forest in the Talamancas and at Monteverde. Longino found nests under pieces of dead wood on the ground, and observed workers foraging on the ground day and night.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Atlantic slope and montane regions of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).

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

Nomenclature

 *  boruca. Pheidole boruca Wilson, 2003: 172, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Description
Major: carinulae originating on the frontal lobes curve laterally above the eyes, many reaching the lateral margins of the head seen in full-face view; posterior quarter of dorsal surface of head, including occiput, covered by scattered conspicuous foveae. Media caste present in type series (a possible developmental anomaly). Similar to Pheidole violacea of Costa Rica, especially in the peculiar pattern of cephalic carinulae, but nests on the ground (instead of in arboreal ant gardens), lacks the bluish reflections on the body of the minor, has a media caste, and is different in the major and minor castes in many details of body form, sculpturing, and pilosity as illustrated. See also the less similar Pheidole aculifera (in the fallax group), Pheidole prostrata and Pheidole variegata (= Pheidole pubiventris).

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.10, HL 1.10, SL 0.78, EL 0.20, PW 0.48. Paratype minor: HW 0.54, HL 0.66, SL 0.84, EL 0.12, PW 0.36.

COLOR Major: body dark, almost blackish brown; appendages medium brown.

Minor: body blackish brown, appendages medium brown.



'''Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor, and partial head of media. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
COSTA RICA: Monteverde, Puntarenas, 10°18'N 84°48'W, 1500 m, col. J. T. Longino.

Etymology
Named after the Boruca Amerindians, one of the surviving native tribes of Costa Rica.