Pheidole sicaria

Known from mid-elevation rainforest and cloud forest. The types were collected by P. S. Ward on a palm trunk. Longino (1997) found two nests respectively in a clump of aroid roots and in loose dead leaves and fragments of carton lodged on the branch of a small Ocotea tree, whose hollow stems harbored a colony of Myrmelachista. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Mid-elevation, Atlantic slope; also upper elevation, to 700 m, Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica (Longino 1997).

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Nomenclature

 *  sicaria. Pheidole sicaria Wilson, 2003: 232, figs. (s.w.) COSTA RICA.

Description
A member of the diligens group, most similar in habitus to Pheidole scimitara of Peru, distinguished by the following traits.

Major: brown; antennal scape slightly exceeding occipital border; propodeal spine as long as the basal propodeal face; postpetiole from above laterally angulate; head capsule swollen, so that venter is strongly convex, and Head Width exceeds Head Length; humerus subangulate in dorsal-oblique view; anterior third of pronotal dorsum carinulate; head lacking rugoreticulum; anterior third of central strip of first gastral tergite shagreened.

Minor: propodeal spine as long as basal propodeal face; occiput narrowed, with nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.20, HL 1.16, SL 1.04, EL 0.22, PW 0.60. Paratype minor: HW 0.62, HL 0.72, SL 1.00, EL 0.14, PW 0.42.

COLOR Major: body, mandibles, and scape medium brown; rest of appendages light to yellowish brown.

Minor: body light brown, appendages yellowish brown.



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: Llorona, Corcovado National Park, col. Philip S. Ward.

Etymology
L sicaria, with dagger, assassin.

Additional References
Text and images from this publication used by permission of the author.