Pheidole voreios, Salata & Fisher, 2020

Salata, Sebastian & Fisher, Brian L., 2020, The ant genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar-taxonomic revision of the bessonii species-group, Zootaxa 4843 (1), pp. 1-64 : 57-59

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4843.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:57044928-1950-4525-850E-E381A52599A1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4488411

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03938025-FFB6-A92C-A7D8-B69FFC2AFC34

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Pheidole voreios
status

sp. nov.

Pheidole voreios sp. nov.

Figs 25 View FIGURE 25 A–F, 27Q, 28Q

HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, 10-Feb-2001, tropical dry forest, ex rotten log, Fisher et al. leg. BLF02932, CASENT0406635( CASC) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: 6w.,2s.,the same data as holotype, CASENT0406634,CASENT0406636, CASENT0872257, CASENT0406633 ( CASC, MHNG, PBZT) GoogleMaps .

Other material. Madagascar, Antsiranana: 1w., 1s., Forêt d’ Andavakoera, 21.4 km 75° ENE Ambilobe; 4.6 km 356° N Betsiaka, -13.11833 49.23, 425 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Forêt d’Ampombofofo , -12.09949 49.33874, 25 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 2w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 3w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 2w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 6w., 4s., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 1w., Sahamalaza Peninsula, Forêt d’Anabohazo , 21.6 km 247° WSW Maromandia, -14.30889 47.91433, 120 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 2w., Sahamalaza Peninsula, Forêt d’Anabohazo , 21.6 km 247° WSW Maromandia, -14.30889 47.91433, 120 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps

Geographic range. Madagascar, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana, Forêt d’ Andavakoera, Forêt d’Ampombofofo, and Forêt d’Anabohazo.

Diagnosis. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral margins relatively straight; side of head with sparse, long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial frons with moderately thick and dense costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate; frons laterally with sparser costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate; occipital lobes with thin and sparse rugulae that arch posterolaterally; interspaces between rugulae punctate; sculpture weakening posteriorly; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal tooth very small and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top arching posteroventrally; median tooth present and indistinct; promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum moderately steep; mesonotal process distinct and tubercle-like; mesosoma punctate; promesonotum with additional thin, sparse, and transverse rugae; katepisternum and propodeum with additional sparse rugae; gaster shagreened; body brown. Minor workers. Occiput elongated; nuchal collar distinct; head sculpture mostly smooth; anterior frons with sparse puncta; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by half of its length; promesonotum low, long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and narrow; mesosoma microreticulate; promesonotum with sparser sculpture; promesonotal dorsum mostly to entirely smooth; body brown.

Description. Major workers. Measurements (n=9): HL: 1.65–1.81 (1.74); HW: 1.5–1.68 (1.6); SL: 1.15–1.24 (1.19); EL: 0.23–0.27 (0.24); WL: 1.62–1.74 (1.68); PSL: 0.21–0.31 (0.27); MTL: 1.34–1.42 (1.37); PNW: 0.61– 0.66 (0.63); PTW: 0.19–0.27 (0.22); PPW: 0.49–0.63 (0.57); CI: 106.4–112.1 (109.2); SI: 69.7–79.0 (74.9); PSLI: 13.0–17.4 (15.4); PPI: 34.4–42.9 (38.0); PNI: 37.4–41.3 (39.3); MTI: 80.9–93.7 (86.0).

Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral sides relatively straight ( Fig. 25B View FIGURE 25 ). In lateral view sub-oval, not depressed posteriorly; ventral and dorsal margins convex; inner hypostomal tooth not visible. Side of head with sparse, long, suberect to erect pilosity; head dorsum with relatively dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial frons with moderately thick and dense costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Frons laterally with sparser costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Occipital lobes with thin and sparse rugulae that arch posterolaterally; interspaces between rugulae punctate; sculpture weakening posteriorly. Gena with dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Sides posterolateral from eyes with dense but thin rugoreticulae. Center of clypeus shiny and mostly smooth, lateral sides with distinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 25B, D View FIGURE 25 ). Inner hypostomal tooth very small and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top arching posteroventrally; median tooth present and weakly developed ( Fig. 27Q View FIGURE 27 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum moderately steep; mesonotal process distinct and tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; propodeal spines moderately long with wide base and acute top; humeral tubercle weakly produced ( Fig. 25D View FIGURE 25 ). Surface shiny and punctate; promesonotum with additional, thin, sparse, and transverse rugae; katepisternum and propodeum with additional sparse rugae. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect ( Fig. 25D, F View FIGURE 25 ). Petiole. In rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex ( Fig. 25D, F View FIGURE 25 ). Gaster. Dull and shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 25D, F View FIGURE 25 ). Color. Brown, antennae and legs yellowish brown ( Fig. 25D, F View FIGURE 25 ).

Description. Minor workers. Measurements (n=8): HL: 0.77–0.85 (0.81); HW: 0.53–0.59 (0.56); SL: 1.09– 1.2 (1.15); EL: 0.16–0.18 (0.17); WL: 1.08–1.21 (1.15); PSL: 0.11–0.13 (0.12); MTL: 1.01–1.1 (1.05); PNW: 0.39–0.44 (0.42); PTW: 0.09–0.11 (0.1); PPW: 0.14–0.18 (0.17); CI: 142.6–148.3 (145.3); SI: 202.6–209.9 (206.3); PSLI: 12.8–16.6 (15.4); PPI: 52.9–66.4 (59.4); PNI: 71.2–77.3 (74.6); MTI: 184.7–194.9 (188.8).

Head. In full-face view oval, posterior region elongated; nuchal collar distinct ( Fig. 25A View FIGURE 25 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and mostly smooth; anterior frons with sparse puncta. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by half of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 25A, C View FIGURE 25 ).

Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular, narrow ( Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 ). Sculpture microreticulate; promesonotum with sparser sculpture and mostly to entirely smooth dorsum. Pilosity very sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 25C, E View FIGURE 25 ). Gaster. With sparse and erect pilosity ( Fig. 25C, E View FIGURE 25 ). Color. Brown, legs and antennae yellowish ( Fig. 25C, E View FIGURE 25 ).

Biology. The species was collected between 25–487 m elevation, in tropical dry forest and rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and rotten sticks on the ground. Workers were collected from sifted litter and on low vegetation.

Comments. Pheidole voreios is known from the northern part of the island and is most similar to the widespread and parapatric P. bessonii . Majors of P. voreios can be distinguished based on rugulate occipital lobes, and frons laterally with sparse costulae and distinctly punctate interspaces. In contrast, P. bessonii has punctate occipital lobes and frons laterally rugocostulate. Minors can be separated based on more elongated posterior region of head, microreticulate mesosoma with sculpture weakening on promesonotum, and small and narrow propodeal spines. In contrast, P. bessonii has less elongated posterior region of head, mostly smooth promesonotum, and very small propodeal spines.

Etymology. Greek for northern, in reference to the range of the species.

MHNG

Museum d'Histoire Naturelle

PBZT

Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Pheidole

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