Pheidole flavodepressa, 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 : 30-32

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.4488387

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03938025-FF93-A909-A7D8-B3E6FE14FE50

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Pheidole flavodepressa
status

sp. nov.

Pheidole flavodepressa sp. nov.

Figs 15 View FIGURE 15 A–F, 27G, 28G

HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Antsiranana, Makirovana forest , -14.104 50.03574, 225 m, 4-May-2011, rainforest, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), B. L. Fisher et al. leg. BLF27044, CASENT0243625 ( CASC) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: 1w., the same data as holotype, CASENT0230800 ( CASC) GoogleMaps .

Other material. Madagascar. Antsiranana: 4w., 2s., Makirovana forest , -14.104 50.03574, 225 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps ; 1w., R.S. Manongarivo, 14.5 km 220° SW Antanambao , -13.99833 48.42833, 1175 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) GoogleMaps .

Geographic range. Madagascar, Antsiranana, Makirovana forest and R.S. Manongarivo.

Diagnosis. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, elongated, not widening posteriorly, lateral margins relatively straight with very deep posteromedian concavity; side of head with moderately dense, long, subdecumbent to suberect pilosity; medial frons with dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly rugulate; frons laterally with thick and dense rugae; interspaces between rugae distinctly rugulate; occipital lobes with thick and dense rugae; interspaces between rugae distinctly rugulate; sculpture not weakening posteriorly; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal tooth indistinct and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top arching posterolaterally; median tooth absent; promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum smoothly declining towards propodeum; mesonotal process indistinct and tubercle-like; mesosoma punctate; promesonotum with additional thin, dense, and transverse rugae; katepisternum and lateral sides of propodeum with additional thick and dense rugulae; gaster shagreened; body orange. Minor workers. Occiput elongated forming moderately long and narrow neck; nuchal collar distinct; head sculpture smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by three-fifths of its length; promesonotum low, very long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines long and thin; mesosoma smooth; body yellow.

Description. Major workers. Measurements (n=3): HL: 1.86–1.89 (1.88); HW: 1.56–1.66 (1.6); SL: 1.33–1.41 (1.37); EL: 0.2–0.23 (0.22); WL: 1.68–1.76 (1.71); PSL: 0.4–0.42 (0.41); MTL: 1.53–1.54 (1.54); PNW: 0.64–0.66 (0.65); PTW: 0.18–0.2 (0.19); PPW: 0.53–0.58 (0.56); CI: 113.7–119.3 (117.3); SI: 83.6–90.2 (85.8); PSLI: 21.0– 22.3 (21.9); PPI: 31.2–35.8 (33.8); PNI: 39.6–42.3 (40.7); MTI: 92.8–98.9 (95.9).

Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, elongated, not widening posteriorly, lateral sides relatively straight with very deep posteromedian concavity ( Fig. 15B View FIGURE 15 ). In lateral view sub-oval, not depressed posteriorly; ventral and dorsal margins convex; inner hypostomal tooth not visible. Side of head with moderately dense, long, subdecumbent to suberect pilosity; head dorsum with relatively dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity. Medial frons with dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly rugulate. Frons laterally with thick and dense rugae; interspaces between rugae distinctly rugulate. Occipital lobes with thick and dense rugae; interspaces between rugae distinctly rugulate; sculpture not weakening posteriorly. Gena with dense and moderately thick costulae; interspaces between costulae mostly smooth. Sides posterolateral from eyes with dense but very thin network of rugoreticulae; sculpture not weakening posteriorly. Center of clypeus shiny with few rugae, 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. 15B, D View FIGURE 15 ). Inner hypostomal tooth indistinct, bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top arching posterolaterally; median tooth absent ( Fig. 27G View FIGURE 27 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum smoothly declining towards propodeum; mesonotal process indistinct and tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines long, with narrow base and acute top; humeral tubercle weakly produced ( Fig. 15D View FIGURE 15 ). Surface punctate; promesonotum with additional thin, dense, and transverse rugae; katepisternum and lateral sides of propodeum with additional thick and dense rugulae. Pilosity dense, long, and erect ( Fig. 15D, F View FIGURE 15 ). Petiole. In rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex ( Fig. 15D, F View FIGURE 15 ). Gaster. Dull and shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 15D, F View FIGURE 15 ). Color. Orange, antennae and legs yellow, gaster and mandibles brownish-orange ( Fig. 15D, F View FIGURE 15 ).

Description. Minor workers. Measurements (n=5): HL: 0.84–0.91 (0.87); HW: 0.48–0.51 (0.49); SL: 1.26– 1.36 (1.31); EL: 0.14–0.16 (0.15); WL: 1.12–1.18 (1.14); PSL: 0.2–0.24 (0.22); MTL: 1.14–1.25 (1.19); PNW: 0.37–0.38 (0.38); PTW: 0.07–0.09 (0.08); PPW: 0.13–0.16 (0.15); CI: 173.5–185.3 (177.1); SI: 257.9–279.6 (266.9); PSLI: 22.8–27.6 (25.7); PPI: 49.0–62.0 (56.0); PNI: 74.4–79.6 (76.9); MTI: 236.1–256.3 (242.2).

Head. In full-face view oval, posterior region elongated forming moderately long and narrow neck; nuchal collar distinct ( Fig. 15A View FIGURE 15 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and smooth. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by three-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 15A, C View FIGURE 15 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, very long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines long, thin, and triangular ( Fig. 15C View FIGURE 15 ). Sculpture smooth. Pilosity very sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 15C, E View FIGURE 15 ). Gaster. With sparse and erect pilosity ( Fig. 15C, E View FIGURE 15 ). Color. Yellow ( Fig. 15C, E View FIGURE 15 ).

Biology. The species was collected between 225–1175 m elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nesting preferences are unknown. Workers were collected from sifted litter.

Comments. Pheidole flavodepressa is known from two localities in Antsiranana and is most similar to parapatric P. zirafy . Majors of P. flavodepressa can be separated based on orange body coloration, side of head with moderately dense, long and subdecumbent to suberect pilosity, and occipital lobes with thick and dense rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces between rugae. Majors of P. zirafy have blackish brown body, moderately sparse, short and appressed to decumbent pilosity on side of head, and occipital lobes with rugae that are thin, weakening posteriorly, and archposterolaterally, with mostly smooth interspaces between rugae. Minors of P. flavodepressa have yellow body coloration, shorter and thicker neck, and smooth mesosoma. In contrast, P. zirafy has dark brown minors with longer and thinner neck and mostly sculptured mesosoma. Minor workers of P. flavodepressa may also be confused with those of P. antsahabe , P. similis , P. mantadioflava , and P. clara , but differ from them in distinctly longer and thinner neck.

Etymology. Latin for yellow and deep, in reference to the yellow body coloration and deep posteromedian concavity in major workers.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Pheidole

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