Pheidole carinata

Occurs in leaf litter of cloud forest (Longino 1997).

Identification
A large brown member of the flavens group whose major is distinguished by its square head shape in frontal view, angulate profile of the mesonotal convexity, and rugoreticulate mesosomal dorsum. The minor is very distinctive in the completely rugoreticulate condition of the posterior half of the head, promesonotal dorsum, and mesopleuron.

Similar to Pheidole quadriceps of Colombia but differs in the major by its much shorter propodeal spine, less extensive sculpturing on the head, the rugoreticulum of the mesosoma, which is completely lacking in quadriceps, and in color, and in the minor by the mesosomal rugoreticulation, which is absent in the quadriceps minor, and also in color. See also the less similar Pheidole kuna, Pheidole obtusopilosa, Pheidole rectisentis, Pheidole scabriventris and Pheidole termitobia. (Wilson 2003)

Distribution
Only known from the type locality.

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
A large brown member of the flavens group whose major is distinguished by its square head shape in frontal view, angulate profile of the mesonotal convexity, and rugoreticulate mesosomal dorsum. The minor is very distinctive in the completely rugoreticulate condition of the posterior half of the head, promesonotal dorsum, and mesopleuron.

Similar to Pheidole quadriceps of Colombia but differs in the major by its much shorter propodeal spine, less extensive sculpturing on the head, the rugoreticulum of the mesosoma, which is completely lacking in quadriceps, and in color, and in the minor by the mesosomal rugoreticulation, which is absent in the quadriceps minor, and also in color. See also the less similar Pheidole kuna, Pheidole obtusopilosa, Pheidole rectisentis, Pheidole scabriventris and Pheidole termitobia.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.14, HL 1.14, SL 0.62, EL 0.14, PW 0.54. Paratype minor : HW 0.54, HL 0.66, SL 60, EL 0.06, PW 0.38.

COLOR Major: head bicolorous, with head anterior to eyes yellow and remainder of head light brown (the holotype may be a callow); body light brown; tarsi and funiculi yellow; rest of legs light brown. Minor: body dark brown; tarsi and funiculi dark yellow; rest of appendages medium brown.



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: Monteverde, Puntarenas, 10°18'N 84°48'W, 1560 m (J. T. Longino).

Etymology
L carinata, keeled or ridged, referring to the ridge-like mesonotal convexity in the major.