Pheidole navoatrensis, Salata & Fisher, 2020

Salata, Sebastian & Fisher, Brian L., 2020, Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Madagascar - an introduction and a taxonomic revision of eleven species groups, ZooKeys 905, pp. 1-235 : 1

Pheidole navoatrensis sp. nov. Figs 18A-F , 85M , 87R

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antananarivo; Navoatra I Non-Protected Area, 7.64 km NW Arivonimamo; -18.97806, 47.11929; alt. 1373 m; 6 May 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0204235 (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1w.; same data as for holotype; ARA0915, CASENT0204254 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Fianarantsoa: •3w.; Ampangabe I Non-Protected Area, 21.4 km W Itremo; -20.61111, 46.60688; alt. 1414 m; 21 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0211553, CASENT0213731, CASENT0213781 (CASC). •1w.; Ampangabe V Non-Protected Area, 21.37 km W Itremo; -20.61361, 46.60799; alt. 1449 m; 22 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0207631 (CASC). •2w.; Ampangabe VI Non-Protected Area, 21.16 km W Itremo; -20.61444, 46.6104; alt. 1379 m; 21 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0164859, CASENT0236320 (CASC). •1w.; Ampotoampoto I National Parc, 8.02 km NW Ilakaka; -22.62833, 45.18859; alt. 917 m; 26 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0207300 (CASC). •3w.; Antohatsahomby I Non-Protected Area, 22.77 km NW Ambatofinandrahana; -20.55056, 46.58562; alt. 1550 m; 15 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0207419, CASENT0207420, CASENT0207442 (CASC). •1w.; Antohatsahomby I Non-Protected Area, 22.77 km NW Ambatofinandrahana; -20.55056, 46.58562; alt. 1550 m; 15 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0207433 (CASC). •1w.; Antohatsahomby II Non-Protected Area, 23.38 km NW Itremo; -20.55444, 46.58438; alt. 1640 m; 15 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0211933 (CASC). •2s.; Parc National d’Isalo, 9.1 km 354°N Ranohira; -22.48167, 45.46167; alt. 725 m; 27 Jan 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0036594, CASENT0036601 (CASC). - Mahajanga: •2s.; Parc National d’Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa Station Forestière, 5.4 km 331°NW Andranofasika; -16.29889, 46.813; alt. 70 m; 26 Mar 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0469065, CASENT0469084 (CASC). •1w.; Réserve forestière Beanka, 52.7 km E Maintirano; -18.0622, 44.52587; alt. 300 m; 24 Oct 2009; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0157649 (CASC). - Toliara: •10w.; Makay Mts.; -21.30997, 45.12946; alt. 590 m; 3 Dec 2010; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0205797, CASENT0205801, CASENT0205807, CASENT0205808, CASENT0205812, CASENT0205824, CASENT0205827, CASENT0205832, CASENT0205984 (CASC). •1s.; Réserve Spéciale Kalambatritra; -23.4185, 46.4583; alt. 1365 m; 8 Feb 2009; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0149710 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head elongate; sides of the head with very sparse, moderately short, erect pilosity; frons smooth, with few short, thick, longitudinal rugae on the anterior part; genae shiny and smooth; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth weakly developed, dentate; body yellow to orange; mesosoma smooth, sometimes with indistinct and sparse foveolae or rugulae on propodeum and promesonotum. Minor workers. Body yellow; head shiny and smooth, only lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; propodeal spines short and triangular; mesosoma smooth and shiny.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 1.09-1.45 (1.21); HW: 0.86-1.14 (0.94); SL: 0.46-0.58 (0.5); EL: 0.12-0.15 (0.13); WL: 0.84-1.02 (0.91); PSL: 0.14-0.19 (0.17); MTL: 0.49-0.6 (0.53); PNW: 0.5-0.65 (0.55); PTW: 0.15-0.19 (0.17); PPW: 0.3-0.41 (0.34); CI: 74.5-80.3 (77.8); SI: 50.2-56.7 (53.1); PSLI: 12.9-15.6 (14.0); PPI: 43.3-54.9 (49.3); PNI: 56.6-61.4 (58.0); MTI: 52.4 -59.9 (57.1). Head. In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes straight and slightly convex (Fig. 18B ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with very sparse, moderately short, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, very short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes very weakly impressed and not delimited, scrobe surface shiny, with thick, longitudinal, short, and interrupted rugae; interspaces distinctly rugo-foveolate. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces rugo-foveolate, rugae fading anteriorly; frons smooth, with few short, thick, longitudinal rugae on the anterior part; genae shiny and smooth; malar area with thin, longitudinal, moderately dense rugae, interspaces smooth or with indistinct rugulae. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae indistinct. Scape, when laid back, not reaching the midlength of head; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 18B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth weakly developed, dentate (Fig. 85M ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, posterior mesonotum convex, without tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small, triangular, with sharp apex and wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 18D ). Surface shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct and sparse foveolae or rugulae on propodeum and promesonotum. Pilosity moderately dense, very long and suberect to erect (Fig. 18D, F ). Petiole. Shiny; peduncle moderately long, finely foveolate, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect (Fig. 18D, F ). Postpetiole. Shiny; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately dense and erect (Fig. 18D, F ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity dense, short, and erect (Fig. 18D, F ). Colour. Yellow to orange; malar area, lower frons and gaster dark yellow to yellowish brown (Fig. 18D, F ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 5): HL: 0.45-0.49 (0.47); HW: 0.41-0.45 (0.43); SL: 0.39-0.43 (0.41); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.53-0.59 (0.54); PSL: 0.06-0.09 (0.07); MTL: 0.33-0.36 (0.35); PNW: 0.27-0.3 (0.28); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.1-0.12 (0.11); CI: 88.7-90.7 (89.7); SI: 90.7-99.1 (95.6); PSLI: 12.6-17.5 (15.1); PPI: 61.5-75.5 (66.2); PNI: 64.0-68.5 (66.7); MTI: 78.0-84.3 (80.7). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 18A ). Pilosity moderately dense, long, suberect. Whole head shiny and smooth, only lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching posterior head margin; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 18A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum convex; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short and triangular, apex acute (Fig. 18C, E ). Sculpture smooth and shiny. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 18C, E ). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node globular; with few moderately long, erect setae (Fig. 18C, E ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few moderately long, erect setae (Fig. 18C, E ). Gaster. With moderately dense, erect pilosity (Fig. 18C, E ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 18C, E ).

Etymology.

From the type locality.

Biology.

The species was collected at elevation between 70-1640 m, in dry forest on sandy soil, in Uapaca woodland, in savannah woodland, in tropical dry forest, in gallery forest, in shrubland. Nests were located in soil and under stones.

Comment.

Pheidole navoatrensis sp. nov. is most similar to P. typhlos sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole navoatrensis sp. nov. differs from P. typhlos sp. nov. in well-developed eyes, never smooth occipital lobes, small inner hypostomal teeth and weakly developed outer hypostomal teeth, and posterior mesonotum never convex. Minor workers. Pheidole navoatrensis sp. nov. differs from P. typhlos sp. nov. in convex promesonotum, big eyes, and shallow metanotal groove.

Figures

Figure 18. Pheidole navoatrensis sp. nov., full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT 0204254) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT 0204235).

Figure 85. Hypostomal teeth. Pheidole madinika sp. nov. (A). P. mahaboensis sp. nov. (B). P. maizina sp. nov. (C). P. makaensis sp. nov. (D). P. makirovana sp. nov. (E). P. manantenensis sp. nov. (F). P. mantadia sp. nov. (G). P. marieannae sp. nov. (H). P. masoala sp. nov. (I). P. mavesatra sp. nov. (J). P. miramila sp. nov. (K). P. moramanaensis sp. nov. (L). P. navoatrensis sp. nov. (M). P. nemoralis Forel (N). P. ocypodea sp. nov. (O). P. parviocula sp. nov. (P). P. petax Forel (Q). P. podargea sp. nov. (R). P. praegrandis sp. nov. (S). P. ranohirensis sp. nov. (T). P. rugocephala sp. nov. (U). P. rugofitarata sp. nov. (V). P. scabrata Forel (W). P. typhlos sp. nov. (X). P. vatovavensis sp. nov. (Y). P. voasara sp. nov. (Z). P. vohemarensis sp. nov. (AA). P. zavamanira sp. nov. (AB).

Figure 87. Distribution. Pheidole lamperos sp. nov. (A). P. longipilosa sp. nov. (B). P. longispinosa Forel (C). P. lutea sp. nov. (D). P. madinika sp. nov. (E). P. mahaboensis sp. nov. (F). P. maizina sp. nov. (G). P. makaensis sp. nov. (H). P. makirovana sp. nov. (I). P. manantenensis sp. nov. (J). P. mantadia sp. nov. (K). P. marieannae sp. nov. (L). P. masoala sp. nov. (M). P. mavesatra sp. nov. (N). P. miramila sp. nov. (O). P. moramanaensis sp. nov. (P). P. navoatrensis sp. nov. (R). P. nemoralis Forel (S). P. ocypodea sp. nov. (T). P. parviocula sp. nov. (U).