Pheidole miramila sp. nov. Figs 74A-C, 85K, 87O

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Fianarantsoa; 45 km S. Ambalavao; -22.21667, 47.01667; alt. 785 m; 25 Sep 1993; B.L. Fisher leg.; BLF00696, CASENT0198567, top specimen (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0872079 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head in full-face view oval, relatively as long as wide, anterior and posterior of eyes moderately convex; sides of the head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; genae smooth and shiny; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, low, thick, and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth higher, thick, dentate, with rounded tips; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular; first gastral tergite finely shagreened; body yellowish brown to brown.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 2): HL: 1.63-1.7; HW: 1.57-1.59; SL: 0.68-0.67; EL: 0.19-0.16; WL: 1.12-1.15; PSL: 0.26-0.24; MTL: 0.65-0.69; PNW: 0.76-0.74; PTW: 0.18-0.2; PPW: 0.64-0.61; CI: 96.8-93.2; SI: 43.0-42.2; PSLI: 16.2-14.3; PPI: 27.9-33.0; PNI: 48.1-46.4; MTI: 41.5-43.7. Head. In full-face view oval, anterior and posterior of eyes moderately convex (Fig. 74C). 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 invisible. Sides of the head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, short, fine, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth; frons with thick, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth; lateral sides of head with thin, dense, irregular rugoreticulation; malar area with dense and thin longitudinal rugulae; genae smooth and shiny. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with thin, longitudinal rugulae on the lateral sides; median notch present, narrow 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. 74B, C). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, low, thick and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth higher, thick, dentate, with rounded tips (Fig. 85K). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and relatively low, posterior mesonotum steep, with moderately large, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with base wide, apex rounded; humeral area with small and flat tubercles (Fig. 74B). Surface shiny, with very sparse, transverse to irregular thin rugae. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 74A, B). Petiole. Shiny, finely shagreened to smooth; peduncle short, with small, rounded horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and triangular, with convex apex, in rear view node relatively straight; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 74A, B). Postpetiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; short and rounded; in dorsal view sides with relatively long, acute, triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 74A, B). Petiole. First gastral tergite shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long and erect (Fig. 74A, B). Colour. Unicolourous, yellowish brown to brown (Fig. 74A, B).

Minor workers. Unknown.

Etymology.

Malagasy for a soldier, in reference to the fact that this species is known only from its major workers.

Biology.

The species was collected at 785 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nesting preferences unknown.

Comments.

Pheidole miramila sp. nov. is most similar to P. boribora sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole miramila sp. nov. differs from P. boribora sp. nov. by absence of foveolae on head, sparse and short pilosity of sides of head, triangular inner hypostomal teeth, and propodeal spines moderately long. Minor workers. Unknown.