Pheidole ala, Salata & Fisher, 2020
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.905.39592 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F4C766E4-633A-4103-9FFD-E952718F41FB |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/28B23A79-FBFE-41AB-A4FB-1029E6941339 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:28B23A79-FBFE-41AB-A4FB-1029E6941339 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole ala |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole ala sp. nov. Figs 59A-F View Figure 59 , 84B View Figure 84 , 86B View Figure 86
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antananarivo; 3 km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe; -18.47333, 47.96; alt. 1300 m; 5 Dec 2000; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF02480, CASENT0413606, middle specimen (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •6w., 2s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0427741, CASENT0427742, CASENT0872080, CASENT0872192-CASENT0872195 (CASC).
Other material.
Madagascar. - Antananarivo: •4w., 3s.; 3 km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe; -18.47333, 47.96; alt. 1300 m; 5 Dec 2000; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0413601, CASENT0413608, CASENT0413609, CASENT0427739, CASENT0427740, CASENT0427745, CASENT0427747 (CASC). •3w., 8s.; Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohitantely, Forêt d Ambohitantely, 20.9 km 72°NE d Ankazobe; -18.22528, 47.28683; alt. 1410 m; 17 Apr 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0437257, CASENT0437264, CASENT0437267, CASENT0479788, CASENT0479789, CASENT0479790, CASENT0480418, CASENT0480437 (CASC). •3w., 1q.; Réserve Speciale d’Ambohitantely; -18.18762, 47.28576; alt. 1580 m; 8 Mar 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0274613, CASENT0274614 (CASC). - Antsiranana: •1w., 1s., 1q.; 6.5 km SSW Befingotra, Rés. Anjanaharibe-Sud; -14.75, 49.5; alt. 875 m; 28 Oct 1994; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198550 (CASC). •1w., 1s., 1q.; 9.2 km WSW Befingotra, Rés. Anjanaharibe-Sud; -14.75, 49.46667; alt. 1200 m; 8 Nov 1994; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198551 (CASC). - Fianarantsoa: •1s.; R.S. Ivohibe 8.0 km E Ivohibe; -22.48333, 46.96833; alt. 1200 m; 15 Oct 1997; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198029 (CASC). - Toamasina: •1s.; Montagne d’Anjanaharibe, 19.5 km 27°NNE Ambinanitelo; -15.17833, 49.635; alt. 1100 m; 12 Mar 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0038234 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Reserve Betampona, Camp Vohitsivalana, 37.1 km 338° Toamasina; -17.88667, 49.2025; alt. 520 m; 2 Dec 2005; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0067738 (CASC). -Toliara: •2w., 1q.; Parc National d’Andohahela, Col du Sedro, 3.8 km 113°ESE Mahamavo, 37.6 km 341°NNW Tolagnaro; -24.76389, 46.75167; alt. 900 m; 21 Jan 2002; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0430763, CASENT0430764 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex; sides of head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, irregular rugae; closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth slightly thinner and approximately as high as inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately narrow base, triangular; gaster smooth; body bright brown to dark brown. Minor workers. Head foveolate, genae smooth; promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesosoma smooth; propodeal spines minute, triangular; body yellow.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 1.09-1.27 (1.18); HW: 1.03-1.21 (1.11); SL: 0.46-0.53 (0.49); EL: 0.12-0.17 (0.14); WL: 0.85-0.95 (0.9); PSL: 0.16-0.18 (0.17); MTL: 0.46-0.56 (0.51); PNW: 0.55-0.64 (0.59); PTW: 0.13-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.34-0.49 (0.44); CI: 91.3-96.0 (94.1); SI: 41.7-47.1 (44.1); PSLI: 13.6-16.1 (14.4); PPI: 31.0-40.8 (35.3); PNI: 51.0-54.6 (53.0); MTI: 44.2-48.0 (45.9). Head. In full-face view longer than wide, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 59B View Figure 59 ). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming indistinct transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth not visible. Sides of the head with sparse, short, erect 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, thick, irregular rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with indistinct, sparse, irregular rugae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces distinctly to finely rugo-foveolate; genae shiny, with fine rugulae; malar area with dense, thin rugoreticulation. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 59B, D View Figure 59 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex, and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth slightly thinner and approximately as high as inner hypostomal teeth, and with moderately narrow base, triangular (Fig. 84B View Figure 84 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, relatively low, and convex, dorsal mesonotum slightly concave, posterior mesonotum steep, with small, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small, triangular, with rounded apex; humeral area laterally well produced (Fig. 59D View Figure 59 ). Surface shiny, with fine but distinct foveolae or rugo-foveolae, and with additional sparse, fine, and irregular rugae; katepisternum smooth; lateral sides of pronotum and propodeum with fading sculpture. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 59D, F View Figure 59 ). Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 59D, F View Figure 59 ). Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with moderately long, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 59D, F View Figure 59 ). Petiole. Shiny and smooth; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 59D, F View Figure 59 ). Colour. Bright brown to brown; legs yellow to bright brown (Fig. 59D, F View Figure 59 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.47-0.52 (0.49); HW: 0.42-0.46 (0.44); SL: 0.44-0.48 (0.45); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.58-0.63 (0.6); PSL: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.34-0.39 (0.37); PNW: 0.28-0.3 (0.28); PTW: 0.07-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.1-0.13 (0.12); CI: 86.0-90.2 (88.5); SI: 100.2-108.4 (104.4); PSLI: 14.7-18.2 (16.3); PPI: 53.1-66.1 (60.7); PNI: 62.8-67.9 (65.4); MTI: 80.6 -86.5 (83.8). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 58A View Figure 58 ). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae smooth. 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. 59A, C View Figure 59 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with posterior declivity smoothly declining toward propodeum; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines minute, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 59C View Figure 59 ). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesonotum smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 59C, E View Figure 59 ). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node low, bulge-like, and small; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 59C, E View Figure 59 ). Postpetiole. Moderately short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 59C, E View Figure 59 ). Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 59C, E View Figure 59 ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 59C, E View Figure 59 ).
Etymology.
Malagasy for forest, in reference to habitat of the species.
Biology.
The species was collected between 520-1410 m in elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs, and in rotten twigs on the ground.
Diagnosis.
Pheidole ala sp. nov. is most similar to P. nemoralis . Major workers. Pheidole ala sp. nov. differs from P. nemoralis in frons with rugo-foveolate sculpture between rugae and never shagreened gaster. Minor workers. Pheidole ala sp. nov. differs from P. nemoralis in mesosoma with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum, smooth genae, and minute propodeal spines.
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