Pheidole goavana sp. nov. Figs 70A-F, 84U, 86U

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antsiranana; Masoala National Park; -15.32331, 50.30751; alt. 60 m; 10 Mar 2014; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF33068, CASENT0374538 (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923176 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Antsiranana: •1s.; Forêt Ambanitaza, 26.1 km 347° Antalaha; -14.67933, 50.18367; alt. 240 m; 26 Nov 2004; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0054891 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Masoala National Park; -15.3014, 50.22776; alt. 280 m; 7 Mar 2014; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0353609 (CASC). •2w., 1s., 1q.; Masoala National Park; -15.32331, 50.30751; alt. 60 m; 10 Mar 2014; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0374529, CASENT0374530 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Mahasarika; -12.53176, 49.17662; alt. 1135 m; 17 Nov 2007; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0134369 (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 moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, moderately high, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and approximately as high as outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base; gaster finely shagreened; body brownish black. Minor workers. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture; promesonotum low, slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate; lower half of katepisternum smooth; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow; body yellow.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 4): HL: 1.31-1.49 (1.44); HW: 1.17-1.37 (1.32); SL: 0.54-0.6 (0.57); EL: 0.14-0.17 (0.15); WL: 0.9-0.99 (0.96); PSL: 0.19-0.24 (0.22); MTL: 0.53-0.57 (0.55); PNW: 0.62-0.69 (0.67); PTW: 0.17-0.2 (0.19); PPW: 0.54-0.61 (0.57); CI: 89.1-92.3 (91.4); SI: 42.1-46.0 (43.7); PSLI: 14.4-16.2 (15.3); PPI: 31.5-33.2 (32.3); PNI: 50.2-52.9 (51.0); MTI: 40.5-44.9 (42.1). Head. In full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 70B). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming indistinct 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, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with moderately dense, 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 dense 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 present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching midlength of head; pilosity suberect (Fig. 70B, D). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, moderately high, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and approximately as high as outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base (Fig. 84U). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and angular, posterior mesonotum steep, with distinct tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; humeral area laterally well produced (Fig. 70D). Surface shiny, with thin, moderately dense to dense rugoreticulation, interspaces finely foveolate. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 70D, F). Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short, with distinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 70D, F). Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with long, very wide, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity moderately long and erect (Fig. 70D, F). Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, short, and erect (Fig. 70D, F). Colour. Unicolourous, brownish black; lower part of frons and malar area brighter that the rest of head (Fig. 70D, F).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 4): HL: 0.48-0.55 (0.51); HW: 0.44-0.49 (0.47); SL: 0.46-0.5 (0.47); EL: 0.1-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.6-0.63 (0.61); PSL: 0.1-0.12 (0.11); MTL: 0.36-0.38 (0.37); PNW: 0.31-0.34 (0.32); PTW: 0.06-0.07 (0.065); PPW: 0.12-0.14 (0.12); CI: 89.8-95.2 (92.3); SI: 98.3-103.9 (101.0); PSLI: 20.3-22.7 (21.3); PPI: 49.6-55.2 (53.1); PNI: 67.2-70.2 (68.7); MTI: 76.0-81.6 (78.8). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 70A). 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. 70A, C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow, and with acute apex (Fig. 70C). Sculpture foveolate; lower half of katepisternum smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 70C, E). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 70C, E). Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 70C, E). Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 70C, E). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 70C, E).

Etymology.

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

Biology.

The species was collected between 60-1135 m in elevation, in rainforest, and in montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs.

Comments.

Pheidole goavana sp. nov. is most similar to P. mavesatra sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole mavesatra sp. nov. differs from P. goavana sp. nov. in brownish black body colouration, katepisternum never smooth, and promesonotum and lateral surfaces of propodeum with additional thin, moderately dense to dense rugoreticulation. Minor workers. Pheidole mavesatra sp. nov. differs from P. goavana sp. nov. in promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, and triangular propodeal spines.