Pheidole longipilosa sp. nov. Figs 39A-F, 84X, 87B

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Toliara; Forêt Classée d’Analavelona, 29.2 km 343°NNW Mahaboboka; -22.675, 44.19; alt. 1100 m; 18 Feb 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0498298 (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •9w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0235043, CASENT0498295-CASENT0498297, CASENT0872154-CASENT0872158 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Fianarantsoa: •1w.; Parc National d’Isalo, Sahanafa River, 29.2 km 351°N Ranohira; -22.31333, 45.29167; alt. 500 m; 10 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0031767 (CASC). - Toliara: •7w., 4s., 3q.; Forêt Classée d’Analavelona, 29.2 km 343°NNW Mahaboboka; -22.675, 44.19; alt. 1100 m; 18 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0031011, CASENT0031099, CASENT0049501, CASENT0073507, CASENT0235043, CASENT0496936, CASENT0496937, CASENT0496938 (CASC). •1w., 5s.; Forêt Classée d’Analavelona, 29.4 km 343°NNW Mahaboboka; -22.675, 44.18667; alt. 1050 m; 21 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0023935, CASENT0023938, CASENT0023943, CASENT0023946, CASENT0023947, CASENT0024032 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval; sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae not fading posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward, and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth taller and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, lobe-like, directed outward; gaster smooth. Minor workers. Head shiny, foveolate, with additional short, longitudinal, thick rugae on frons, genae with fading sculpture and smooth notch; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum low, convex, short, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum smooth; propodeal spines short, triangular.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 1.05-1.11 (1.09); HW: 0.98-1.04 (1.0); SL: 0.46-0.52 (0.48); EL: 0.13-0.16 (0.13); WL: 0.84-0.97 (0.88); PSL: 0.14-0.17 (0.15); MTL: 0.47-0.5 (0.49); PNW: 0.52-0.58 (0.54); PTW: 0.12-0.14 (0.13); PPW: 0.35-0.4 (0.37); CI: 90.0-93.9 (91.7); SI: 46.5-51.8 (48.1); PSLI: 12.5-15.4 (13.7); PPI: 31.9-39.0 (34.9); PNI: 53.1-55.5 (54.3); MTI: 45.8 -50.9 (48.8). Head. In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes slightly convex, posterior of eyes convex (Fig. 39B). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, very long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with thick, longitudinal, and long rugae; interspaces distinctly rugulose. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae not fading posteriorly; frons with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth, with indistinct rugulae weakening anteriorly; genae shiny, with dense and thin, irregular rugulae, central part with smooth notch; malar area with thin, longitudinal, dense rugae, interspaces with distinct rugulae. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, narrow, and moderately deep; median longitudinal carina present, indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity erect (Fig. 39B, D). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward, and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth taller and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, lobe-like, directed outward (Fig. 84X). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively high and arched, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small to moderately long, triangular, with sharp apex and wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 39D). Surface shiny, promesonotum foveolate with additional indistinct, sparse rugoreticulations, sometimes sculpture fading on dorsal surface and lower parts of lateral sides; katepisternum rugoreticulate, with smooth notch; anepisternum and lateral sides of propodeum with distinct rugoreticulation; dorsoventral side of propodeum smooth or with indistinct sculpture. Pilosity moderately dense, very long, and erect (Fig. 39D, F). Petiole. Shiny; peduncle short, finely foveolate, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node with fading sculpture, relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity long and erect (Fig. 39D, F). Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened, with dorsum at least partially smooth; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, long and erect (Fig. 39D, F). Petiole. Shiny and smooth, only basal part of first gastral tergite finely shagreened; pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig. 39D, F). Colour. Reddish brown to bright brown (Fig. 39D, F).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.49-0.55 (0.51); HW: 0.44-0.47 (0.45); SL: 0.46-0.47 (0.46); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.57-0.6 (0.58); PSL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); MTL: 0.33-0.36 (0.34); PNW: 0.29-0.32 (0.31); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.1-0.12 (0.11); CI: 85.7-90.4 (88.6); SI: 100.2-105.6 (103.0); PSLI: 18.1-21.8 (20.0); PPI: 56.5-64.5 (60.8); PNI: 65.9-70.1 (68.2); MTI: 73.5-80.1 (76.1). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 39A). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head shiny, foveolate, with additional short, longitudinal, thick rugae on frons; genae with fading sculpture and smooth notch. Clypeus smooth, with basal part finely rugulose; median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae indistinct. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 39A, C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, convex, short, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex (Fig. 39C). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum smooth; anepisternum and mesonotum with fading sculpture and sometimes smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 39C, E). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 39C, E). Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 39C, E). Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 39C, E). Colour. Yellow (Fig. 39C, E).

Etymology.

Latin for long pilosity, in reference to the very long pilosity on sides of head in major workers.

Biology.

The species was collected between 500-1100 m in elevation, in montane and gallery forests. Nests were located in rotten logs.