Pheidole diabolus

The type colony, found on a forested mountain ridge, was nesting in a 4-cm-wide, rotten tree branch on the ground. A cache of seeds was present, as well as a male (1-4 June). (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from Costa Rica and Columbia.

This taxon was described from Colombia.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various respects to Pheidole binasifera, Pheidole gravida, Pheidole mirabilis, Pheidole moseni, Pheidole nasifera, Pheidole mosenopsis, Pheidole rhinoceros and Pheidole unicornis'', but strongly distinguished as follows.

Major: a sharp, upcurved horn grows from the center of the clypeus; humeri are very prominent, seen from above extending beyond the rest of the pronotum below, and in dorsal-oblique view forming a large equilateral triangle; propodeal spines more than half as long as the propodeal basal face; carinulae and rugulae on the frontal lobes give way posteriorly to a tight rugoreticulum, which then yields to a loose rugoreticulum, and next to foveolae, which finally are replaced by a smooth zone on the occiput.

Minor: all of head and meso soma and most of waist foveolate; humeri angulate; propodeal spines half as long as the propodeal basal face and curved backwards.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.18, HL 1.36, SL 0.54, EL 0.20, PW 0.64. Paratype minor: HW 0.52, HL 0.54, SL 0.58, EL 0.l2, PW 0.52.

COLOR Major: body and mandibles medium reddish brown; other appendages yellow.

Minor: concolorous brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
COLOMBIA: Finca Los Guaduales, 10 km southwest of San Jose del Palmar, Rio Torito, Choco, col. Charles Kugler.

Etymology
L diabolus, devil, evil spirit.