Pheidole mavesatra sp. nov. Figs 69A-F, 85J, 87N

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Toamasina; Tampolo, 39.4 km SSE Maroantsetra; -15.70978, 49.96965; alt. 218 m; 30 Aug 2007; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF17995, CASENT0134807 (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923177 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head in full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, suberect pilosity; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thin, longitudinal rugae; closely spaced, low, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and higher than outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base; gaster finely shagreened; body brown to dark brown. Minor workers. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture; promesonotum low, long, relatively flat, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate; katepisternum and sometimes mesosoma smooth; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow; body yellow.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 1.3; HW: 1.2; SL: 0.53; EL: 0.14; WL: 0.92; PSL: 0.21; MTL: 0.52; PNW: 0.62; PTW: 0.15; PPW: 0.47; CI: 92.6; SI: 43.8; PSLI: 15.8; PPI: 32.5; PNI: 51.5; MTI: 43.1. Head. In full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 69B). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, suberect pilosity; whole head with dense, moderately short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thin, longitudinal rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with indistinct foveolae and distinct, sparse, thick, irregular rugae, foveolae fading posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces superficially foveolate; genae shiny, with distinct and thin rugulae; malar area with thin, dense, longitudinal rugae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 69B, D). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, low, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and higher than outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base (Fig. 85J). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and angular, posterior mesonotum steep, with indistinct tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex and very wide base; humeral area laterally well produced (Fig. 69D). Surface shiny and foveolate, foveolae fading on the dorsal surface of promesonotum; promesonotum and lateral surfaces of propodeum with additional thick, sparse, and irregular rugae; katepisternum smooth. Pilosity sparse, long and erect (Fig. 69D, F). Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle moderately long, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity long and erect (Fig. 69D, F). Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with moderately long, acute, and horn-like projections; pilosity long and erect (Fig. 69D, F). Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 69D, F). Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown; lower part of frons and malar area brighter that the rest of head (Fig. 69D, F).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 0.51; HW: 0.48; SL: 0.51; EL: 0.11; WL: 0.6; PSL: 0.09; MTL: 0.37; PNW: 0.31; PTW: 0.05; PPW: 0.11; CI: 93.9; SI: 105.6; PSLI: 18.1; PPI: 46.5; PNI: 65.1; MTI: 78.0. Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 69A). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae with reduced sculpture. Clypeus with fine and sometimes reduced foveolae; median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity erect (Fig. 69A, C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, relatively flat, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow, and with acute apex (Fig. 69C). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum and sometimes mesosoma smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 69C, E). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 69C, E). Postpetiole. Moderately short, low and convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 69C, E). Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 69C, E). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 69C, E).

Etymology.

Malagasy for heavy, in reference to massive head of major workers.

Biology.

The species was collected at 218 m in elevation, in disturbed rainforest. Nests were located under moss.

Comments.

Pheidole mavesatra sp. nov. is most similar to P. goavana sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole mavesatra sp. nov. differs from P. goavana sp. nov. in brown to dark brown body colouration, smooth katepisternum, and promesonotum and lateral surfaces of propodeum with additional thick, sparse, and irregular rugae. Minor workers. Pheidole mavesatra sp. nov. differs from P. goavana sp. nov. in promesonotum low, long, relatively flat, and narrow propodeal spines.