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Pheidole tristiculaHNS new species

Types Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard.

Etymology L tristiculaHNS, dim. of tristisHNS, sad.

Diagnosis A small, bicolorous, mostly yellow species belonging to a group of ambiguous species composing the " carapunaHNS complex" ( boltoniHNS, carapunaHNS, corniculaHNS, cuprinaHNS, eriophoraHNS, jivaroHNS, manuanaHNS, and tristiculaHNS). All are relatively small in size, with the major possessing a reduced mesonotal convexity and cephalic sculpturing that consists entirely of longitudinal carinulae that extend to or almost to the occipital border seen in full-face view. All also have a minor with a broad, concave occiput, which lacks a collar. Among these species, P. tristiculaHNS is distinguished in the major by combination of its elevated humerus in dorsal-oblique view, laterally angular postpetiolar node, transversely carinulate pronotal dorsum, partially shagreened first gastral tergite, and in color. It is closest to carapunaHNS.

Measurements (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.08, HL 1.24, SL 0.64, EL 0.18, PW 0.60. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.60, SL 0.54, EL 0.12, PW 0.38.

Color Major and minor: head and mesosoma light reddish yellow ("orange"), rest of body and appendages clear medium yellow.

range A very widespread but overall not abundant species. I have identified series from Veracruz, Mexico; Honduras; Colombia; French Guiana; Trinidad; and scattered localities in Amazonian Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

biology At Cuzco Amazonico, near Puerto Maldonado, Peru, Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin found a colony in mature rainforest, nesting in humus on top of a rotten log. Similarly, Mark Moffett collected a colony from a rotten log at Saul, French Guiana.

Figure Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. PERU: Cuzco Amazonico, 15 km northeast of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata (Stefan Cover and John E. Tobin). Scale bars = 1 mm.