Pheidole protensa

In Veracruz, protensa has been found in both lowland rainforest and in montane cafetals, i.e., forest with coffee. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Known from the type series; from near Cuichapa, Veracruz, 1600 m; and from Tuli Creek, near San Miguel, Nicaragua. (Wilson 2003)

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

Nomenclature

 *  protensa. Pheidole protensa Wilson, 2003: 489, figs. (s.w.) MEXICO.

Description
DIAGNOSIS A very small, yellow member of the flavens group, distinguished in the major by an elongated head entirely covered dorsally with longitudinal carinulae, which grow faint and curve inwardly in the posterior third of the head to converge toward and meet at the midline, becoming horizontal near the occiput. Major: also with broken transverse carinulae on pronotal dorsum; a small but distinct mesonotal convexity; propodeal spines reduced to denticles; and a large propodeal spiracle.

Minor: all of head and mesosoma foveolate and opaque; propodeal spines reduced to denticles. Similar to Pheidole browni, Pheidole casta, Pheidole mera, Pheidole olsoni and Pheidole prolixa, but easily distinguished by the above traits.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.60, HL 0.82, SL 0.34, EL 0.10, PW 0.32. Paratype minor: HW 0.38, HL 0.44, SL 0.34, EL 0.06, PW 0.36.

COLOR Major and minor concolorous medium yellow.



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

Type Material
MEXICO: Las Hamacas, 17 km north of Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz, col. E. O. Wilson.

Etymology
L protensa, stretched out, referring to the somewhat elongate head of the major.