Pheidole mavohavoana, 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/EEA3C5B6-0DE0-4305-A179-89166B60B3DA |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:EEA3C5B6-0DE0-4305-A179-89166B60B3DA |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole mavohavoana |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole mavohavoana sp. nov. Figs 44A-F View Figure 44 , 64B View Figure 64 , 66F View Figure 66
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Fianarantsoa; 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly; -21.51167, 47.41; alt. 1075 m; 3 Jun 2005; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF12291; CASENT0923298 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0059948 (CASC).
Other material.
Madagascar. - Toliara: • 3w.; 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.; montane rainforest, under stone; BLF05034 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval, widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head very dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, longitudinal, and dense rugae, interspaces predominantly smooth to indistinctly rugulate, rugae more irregular and directed slightly outward on posteromedial part; lateral sides with thick, dense, and irregular rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces; area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by three-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, distinctly lower and narrower than inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma rugofoveolate; dorsal promesonotum and katepisternum with sparser rugofoveolae; gaster smooth with very dense pilosity; body orange. Minor workers. Head smooth; lateral sides of frons with longitudinal, short, and thick rugae; vertex with very short, sparse, and transverse rugae; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum moderately low and moderately long; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines very small and triangular; mesosoma smooth; dorsal promesonotum with very sparse and transverse rugae; propodeum with sparse, irregular, and indistinct rugulae; body yellow.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 1.3; HW: 1.28; SL: 0.83; EL: 0.13; WL: 1.12; PSL: 0.2; MTL: 0.79; PNW: 0.55; PTW: 0.15; PPW: 0.34; CI: 101.5; SI: 64.9; PSLI: 15.6; PPI: 43.9; PNI: 43.1; MTI: 62.1.
Head. In full-face view sub-oval, distinctly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex (Fig. 44B View Figure 44 ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with very dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, longitudinal and dense rugae, interspaces predominantly smooth to indistinctly rugulate, rugae more irregular and directed slightly outward on posteromedial part; lateral sides with thick, dense, and irregular rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with dense, irregular rugae and sparsely rugulate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with weaker sculpture. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and distinctly rugulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by three-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 44B, D View Figure 44 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, distinctly lower and narrower than inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity (Fig. 64B View Figure 64 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, with moderately wide base and acute apex; humeral area poorly produced (Fig. 44D View Figure 44 ). Surface shiny and rugofoveolate; dorsal promesonotum and katepisternum with sparser rugofoveolae. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 44D, F View Figure 44 ). Petiole. Shiny with sparse foveolae; node finely foveolate, triangular, with rounded and thick apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 44D, F View Figure 44 ). Postpetiole. Shiny and foveolate; dorsum with reduced sculpture and smooth notch; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 44D, F View Figure 44 ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity very dense, moderately short, and erect (Fig. 44D, F View Figure 44 ). Colour. Yellowish orange with yellow legs and gaster (Fig. 44D, F View Figure 44 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 4): HL: 0.64-0.66 (0.65); HW: 0.53-0.56 (0.55); SL: 0.68-0.75 (0.7); EL: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); WL: 0.81-0.84 (0.83); PSL: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); MTL: 0.57-0.61 (0.58); PNW: 0.37-0.38 (0.37); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); CI: 116.8-121.8 (118.5); SI: 124.1-140.8 (128.5); PSLI: 12.3-14.9 (14.0); PPI: 58.8-64.4 (62.7); PNI: 66.5-69.0 (68.1); MTI: 103.8-113.9 (106.7).
Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex (Fig. 44A View Figure 44 ). Pilosity relatively dense, moderately long, decumbent to subdecumbent. Sculpture shiny and smooth; lateral sides of frons with longitudinal, short, and thick rugae; vertex with very short, sparse, and transverse rugae; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and smooth interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, suberect to erect (Fig. 44A, C View Figure 44 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines very small and triangular (Fig. 44C View Figure 44 ). Sculpture shiny and smooth; dorsal promesonotum with very sparse and transverse rugae; propodeum with sparse, irregular, and indistinct rugulae. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 44C, E View Figure 44 ). Gaster. With dense, erect pilosity (Fig. 44C, E View Figure 44 ). Colour. Yellow (Fig. 44C, E View Figure 44 ).
Etymology.
Malagasy for yellow and hill in reference to body colouration and a habitat occupied by the species.
Biology.
The species was collected between 900-1075 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and under stones.
Comments.
Pheidole mavohavoana sp. nov. has very distinct major and minor workers. The species is known from two localities: Andrambovato in Fianarantsoa and Parc National d’Andohahela in Toliara. Morphologically P. mavohavoana sp. nov. is most similar to P. antranohofa sp. nov., a species known from a remote locality in Antsiranana. Major workers of P. mavohavoana sp. nov. differ from those of P. antranohofa sp. nov. in very dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity on sides of the head with, thick, dense, and irregular rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces on lateral sides of frons, very dense pilosity on gaster, and reduced outer hypostomal teeth; minor workers can be separated based on predominantly smooth head lacking foveolae, moderately low and moderately long promesonotum, and dense pilosity on gaster.
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