Diversity patterns of the ant genus Pheidole in Chiapas, Mexico

The ant genus Pheidole is hyperdiverse in most Neotropical habitats. We examined faunal composition and diversity patterns with respect to elevation in Chiapas, Mexico. Specimens were collected using baiting and hand collecting methods at nine sites: three low elevation, three middle elevation, and three high elevation. We report new species, species diversity within sites, and species turnover among sites. We test the hypothesis that beta diversity is higher in montane sites than lowland sites.