Pheidole tennantae

In Costa Rica, according to Longino (1997), tennantae (referred to by the Wilson ms. name campanae) nests in dead wood on the floor of wet forests. (Wilson 2003)

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
From Wilson (2003): Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica (Longino 1997); Panama; Colombia; Venezuela; and Amazonian Peru (Tingo Maria).

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Description
DIAGNOSIS Similar in various traits to Pheidole amazonica, Pheidole chalcoides, Pheidole moffetti and Pheidole pariana, differing as follows. Major: brown, with bicolored head; pilosity dense, with many hairs 1.5–2.0X Eye Length; in dorsal-oblique view, humerus high, descends in continuous nearly flat curve to metanotum; propodeal spines half as long as propodeal basal face preceding them; from above, postpetiolar node oval and very narrow, only about as wide as petiolar node; dorsal surface of head carinulate except for occiput, frontal triangle, and mid-clypeus; occiput smooth with scattered foveae.

Minor: pilosity very long, some hairs 2X Eye Length; humerus in dorsal-oblique view angulate; propodeal spines moderately long, and thin; occiput narrowed somewhat, its margin concave, lacking nuchal collar.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 0.86, HL 0.90, SL 0.46, EL 0.14, PW 0.44. Paratype minor: HW 0.46, HL 0.50, SL 0.44, EL 0.10, PW 0.32.

COLOR Major: rear two-thirds of head, as well as frontal triangle, part of vertex, and midclypeus, dark brown and rest of head dark yellow, as depicted; waist light brown.

Minor: body dark brown; mandibles, funiculi, and tarsi medium yellow, remainder of appendages brownish yellow.



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

Type Locality Information
COSTA RICA: La Selva Biological Station, near Puerto Viejo, Heredia, col. Leeanne E. Tennant-Alonso.

Etymology
Named after the collector, Leeanne E. Tennant-Alonso, myrmecologist and conservationist.

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