Pheidole brevipilosa sp. nov. Figs 67A-F, 84K, 86K

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Mahajanga; Réserve Spéciale Marotandrano, Marotandrano 48.3 km S Mandritsara; -16.28322, 48.81443; alt. 865 m; 7 Dec 2007; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF19163, CASENT0235034 (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1 w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0134271 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Toliara: •1s.; Forêt de Petriky, 12.5 km W 272° Tolagnaro; -25.06167, 46.87; alt. 10 m; 22 Nov 1998; B.L. Fisher leg.; CASENT0198889 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head in full-face view square, anterior and posterior of eyes relatively straight; dorsal face indistinctly depressed posteriorly; sides of the head with dense, short, erect pilosity; malar area, lateral sides of head, and genae with dense, fine rugulae and foveolae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, big, thick, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth small and thin, with rounded tips directed outward, lobe-like; propodeal spines moderately long, with base slightly wider than top; first gastral tergite shiny and finely shagreened; body brownish black to black. Minor workers. Whole head foveolate, frons and malar area with few additional, indistinct, longitudinal rugae, genae with weaker sculpture; promesonotum low, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate, only katepisternum smooth and promesonotal dorsum with additional sparse, irregular rugae; propodeal spines very small, triangular; body dark brown.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 2): HL: 1.29-1.49; HW: 1.26-1.41; SL: 0.58-0.61; EL: 0.15-0.17; WL: 0.93-1.22; PSL: 0.2-0.22; MTL: 0.54-0.64; PNW: 0.61-0.81; PTW: 0.18-0.21; PPW: 0.61-0.69; CI: 97.2-94.8; SI: 46.1-43.2; PSLI: 15.3-14.8; PPI: 29.3-30.0; PNI: 48.3-57.5; MTI: 42.9-45.8. Head. In full-face view square, anterior and posterior of eyes relatively straight (Fig. 67B). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, short, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae. Occipital lobes with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces superficially rugulose; frons with thick, sparse to moderately sparse, longitudinal rugae, interspaces variable, smooth to finely rugulose and foveolae; malar area, lateral sides of head, and genae with dense, fine rugulae and foveolae. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with thin, longitudinal rugulae on the lateral sides; median notch present, wide and moderately deep; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect (Fig. 67B, D). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, big, thick, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth small and thin, with rounded tips directed outward, lobe-like (Fig. 84K). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular and relatively low, posterior mesonotum relatively steep to steep, with indistinct, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, with base slightly wider than top, apex rounded; humeral area with wide and flat tubercles (Fig. 67D). Surface shiny, with fine and dense rugoreticulation, only katepisternum smooth. Pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 67D, F). Petiole. Shiny, with dense and fine rugulae; peduncle short, with small, rounded, horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and narrow, with convex apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect (Fig. 67D, F). Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and dense rugulae; short and rounded; in dorsal view sides with long, narrow, acute, horn-like projections; pilosity long, moderately dense, and erect (Fig. 67D, F). Petiole. First gastral tergite shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 67D, F). Colour. Unicolourous, brownish black to black; legs dark yellow to brown (Fig. 67D, F).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 0.55; HW: 0.48; SL: 0.51; EL: 0.12; WL: 0.67; PSL: 0.08; MTL: 0.4; PNW: 0.33; PTW: 0.07; PPW: 0.14; CI: 87.2; SI: 105.6; PSLI: 15.2; PPI: 52.6; PNI: 68.3; MTI: 82.0. Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct, weakly developed (Fig. 67A). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, and erect. Whole head foveolate, frons and malar area with few additional, indistinct, longitudinal rugae, genae with weaker sculpture. Clypeus shiny, rugoreticulate; 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. 67A, C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines very small, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 67C). Sculpture foveolate, only katepisternum smooth and promesonotal dorsum with additional sparse, irregular rugae. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 67C, E). Petiole. Shiny; peduncle finely rugulose, short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node low, triangular, and small; with few long, erect setae (Fig. 67C, E). Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 67C, E). Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 67C, E). Colour. Unicolourous, dark brown (Fig. 67C, E).

Etymology.

Latin for short setae, in reference to short setosity on the head sides in major workers.

Biology.

The species was collected between 10-467 m in elevation, in transition humid forest, rainforest, and littoral rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs.

Comments.

This species in most similar to P. petax and P. glabra sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole brevipilosa sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. petax by presence of erect pilosity on sides of head and lateral sides of head, and square head shape in full-face view; from P. glabra sp. nov. by presence of foveolae sculpture on head, weakly developed outer hypostomal teeth, pronotum with sculpture never reduced and lacking smooth notches on its lateral or dorsal surfaces, and lateral sides of propodeum without smooth notches. Minor workers. Pheidole brevipilosa sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. petax by dark brown body colouration, presence of additional indistinct, longitudinal rugae on frons and malar area, presence of additional sparse, irregular rugae on promesonotal dorsum, and clypeus never foveolate; from P. glabra sp. nov. by sparser and shorter pilosity on head, and frons, dorsal surface of pronotum, promesonotal declivity, and lateral surfaces of propodeum with never reduced sculpture.