Pheidole mainty, Salata & Fisher, 2020
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.949.51269 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:93BFA448-BB73-43CD-BC4E-A86090DA63D5 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0F8A6886-41A2-4031-A3C8-26E286D37819 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:0F8A6886-41A2-4031-A3C8-26E286D37819 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole mainty |
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sp. nov. |
Pheidole mainty sp. nov. Figs 40A-F View Figure 40 , 63V View Figure 63 , 66B View Figure 66
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Antsiranana; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, near summit, 25.4 km 20.1°NE Andapa; -14.44918, 49.73243; alt. 2100 m; 10 Feb 2018; B. L. Fisher et al.; montane shrubland, under rootmat, on stone; BLF40947; CASENT0923261 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0809553 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval and slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with very dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with smooth to indistinctly rugulate interspaces; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by one-fifth of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately large, and narrow, closely spaced, triangular with apex directed slightly inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma rugofoveolate; katepisternum with smooth notch; dorsal side of promesonotum with reduced and sparser sculpture; gaster smooth; body black. Minor workers. Head foveolate; vertex with fading foveolae; frons with distinct and sparse, longitudinal rugae; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; promesonotum low and moderately long; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines small, triangular; mesosoma foveolate; promesonotal dorsum, katepisternum, and propodeum predominantly smooth; body black.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 1.34; HW: 1.33; SL: 0.9; EL: 0.18; WL: 1.25; PSL: 0.22; MTL: 0.94; PNW: 0.53; PTW: 0.16; PPW: 0.36; CI: 100.4; SI: 67.8; PSLI: 16.5; PPI: 46.1; PNI: 39.6; MTI: 70.5.
Head. In full-face view sub-oval, slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex (Fig. 40B View Figure 40 ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with very dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with smooth to indistinctly rugulate interspaces; lateral sides of frons with denser, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces with dense, thick, and distinct rugulae. Occipital lobes with sparser and fading rugae and indistinctly rugulate to smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with dense, thick, longitudinal rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces, sculpture slightly fading posteriorly. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, longitudinal rugae and indistinctly rugulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus smooth with few longitudinal rugulae and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by one-fifth of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 40B, D View Figure 40 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately large, and narrow, closely spaced, triangular with apex directed slightly inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity (Fig. 63V View Figure 63 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, relatively wide, and with acute apex; humeral area weakly produced (Fig. 40D View Figure 40 ). Surface shiny and rugofoveolate; katepisternum with smooth notch; dorsal side of promesonotum with reduced and sparser sculpture. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 40D, F View Figure 40 ). Petiole. Shiny with sparse foveolae; node finely smooth, triangular, with rounded and thick apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 40D, F View Figure 40 ). Postpetiole. Shiny and foveolate; dorsum smooth; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two very small and dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 40D, F View Figure 40 ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 40D, F View Figure 40 ). Colour. Black, antenna and legs brownish (Fig. 40D, F View Figure 40 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 0.74; HW: 0.64; SL: 0.93; EL: 0.14; WL: 1.01; PSL: 0.12; MTL: 0.78; PNW: 0.45; PTW: 0.1; PPW: 0.19; CI: 114.3; SI: 144.6; PSLI: 15.9; PPI: 52.1; PNI: 69.8; MTI: 121.6.
Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex (Fig. 40A View Figure 40 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, short, subdecumbent. Sculpture shiny and foveolate; vertex with fading foveolae; frons with distinct, sparse, and longitudinal rugae; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; antennal sockets with few indistinct, curved outward rugae and foveolate interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 40A, C View Figure 40 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove indistinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular (Fig. 40C View Figure 40 ). Sculpture shiny and foveolate; promesonotal dorsum, katepisternum and propodeum predominantly smooth. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 40C, E View Figure 40 ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 40C, E View Figure 40 ). Colour. Black, with legs, gaster, and antenna yellowish brown (Fig. 40C, E View Figure 40 ).
Etymology.
Malagasy for black in reference to black body colouration.
Biology.
The species was collected at 2100 m in elevation, in montane shrubland. Nest was located under rootmats on stones.
Comments.
Pheidole mainty sp. nov. is a member of a group of taxa characterised by dark body colouration that in major workers ranges from brownish black to black and in minor workers ranges from black (head and mesosoma) to dark brown with body predominantly foveolate (only in dark brown specimens). The group consists of three species: P. alina sp. nov., P. trichotos sp. nov., and P. mainty sp. nov. All members of this group are sympatric and their distribution is limited to the northernmost parts of the island, predominantly in Antsiranana prefecture. Major workers of Pheidole mainty sp. nov. differ from P. trichotos sp. nov. in medial part of frons with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with smooth to indistinctly rugulate interspaces, base of first gastral tergite smooth and indistinct, bulge-like inner hypostomal teeth; from P. alina sp. nov. in sides of the head with very dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity, distinct, triangular inner hypostomal teeth, and wide and moderately long propodeal spines. Minor workers of P. mainty sp. nov. differ from P. trichotos sp. nov. and P. alina sp. nov. in entirely smooth area posterolateral from eyes and predominantly smooth promesonotal dorsum, katepisternum, and propodeum.
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