Pheidole sofia, Salata & Fisher, 2020

Salata, Sebastian & Fisher, Brian L., 2020, Taxonomic revision of the Pheidole sikorae species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Madagascar, ZooKeys 949, pp. 1-185 : 1

Pheidole sofia sp. nov. Figs 54A-F , 64L , 67D

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Mahajanga; Region Sofia, Bemanevika; -14.32826, 48.58406; alt. 1657 m; 17 Jan 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF35790; CASENT0705626 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0923280 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Antsiranana: • 2w., 1s.; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Crête; -12.58132, 49.13368; alt. 1110 m; 13 Nov 2007; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF18090 (CASC). • 2w., 2s.; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Mahasarika; -12.53176, 49.17662; alt. 1135 m; 17 Nov 2007; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF18458 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Roussettes; -12.52574, 49.17238; alt. 1025 m; 15 Nov 2007; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF18310 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Roussettes; -12.52574, 49.17238; alt. 1025 m; 15 Nov 2007; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF18336 (CASC).- Fianarantsoa: • 2w., 1s.; Ambositra; -20.53883, 47.24433; alt. 1330 m; 13 Dec 2006; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; urban/garden, ground nest; BLF16210 (CASC).- Mahajanga: • 1w.; Region Sofia, Ampotsidia; -14.42935, 48.69863; alt. 1193 m; 7 Jan 2017; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane ravine forest, ex rotten log; BLF39608 (CASC). • 1w.; Region Sofia, Ampotsidia; -14.42935, 48.69863; alt. 1193 m; 7 Jan 2017; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane ravine forest, ex rotten log; BLF39652 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Region Sofia, Bemanevika; -14.33886, 48.58729; alt. 1567 m; 13 Jan 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF35588 (CASC). • 2w., 1s., 1q.; Region Sofia, Bemanevika; -14.337, 48.58874; alt. 1606 m; 15 Jan 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF35718 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Region Sofia, Bemanevika; -14.34517, 48.58948; alt. 1547 m; 16 Jan 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF35772 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Region Sofia, Bemanevika; -14.32826, 48.58406; alt. 1657 m; 19 Jan 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF35808 (CASC). - Toamasina: • 1w., 1s.; Reserve Betampona, Camp Rendrirendry 34.1 km 332° Toamasina; -17.924, 49.19967; alt. 390 m;29 Nov 2005; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF13135 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Réserve Nationale Intégrale Betampona, Betampona 35.1 km NW Toamasina; -17.91801, 49.20074; alt. 500 m; 16 Dec 2007; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten stick on ground; BLF19608 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, slightly narrowing posteriorly, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, moderately sparse, longitudinal and interrupted rugae, posteromedial part with rugae more irregular and slightly directed outward, interspaces smooth to finely foveolate; anterolateral sides with thick, moderately dense, and longitudinally irregular rugae, posterolateral sides with rugae more irregular, interspaces with dense and distinct foveolae; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed slightly inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, slightly wider than and approximately the same height as inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed slightly outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma with fine rugofoveolae; pronotal dorsum with reduced sculpture and additional thin, interrupted, and transverse rugae; lateral sides of pronotum and katepisternum with smooth notches; gaster smooth; body ferruginous. Minor workers. Head sculpture variable; predominantly smooth or foveolae sparse and fading on medial frons and area posterolateral from eyes; vertex with sparse and short rugulae; frons with very sparse, short, and irregular rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture or predominantly smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately high and short, arched; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines small and triangular; mesosoma with sparse rugofoveolae; promesonotal dorsum and katepisternum with smooth notches or smooth; pronotum with additional sparse, short, and transverse rugulae; body brown.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.96-1.23 (1.1); HW: 0.97-1.16 (1.06); SL: 0.55-0.76 (0.66); EL: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); WL: 0.84-1.04 (0.95); PSL: 0.15-0.19 (0.17); MTL: 0.5-0.69 (0.6); PNW: 0.42-0.57 (0.48); PTW: 0.12-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.28-0.37 (0.31); CI: 99.3-106.0 (103.7); SI: 54.4-77.2 (63.0); PSLI: 14.3-17.3 (15.4); PPI: 43.5-53.7 (48.5); PNI: 42.9-49.2 (45.2); MTI: 50.7-67.1 (57.0).

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, slightly narrowing posteriorly (Fig. 54B ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, moderately sparse, longitudinal, and interrupted rugae, posteromedial part with rugae more irregular and slightly directed outward, interspaces smooth to finely foveolate; anterolateral sides with thick moderately dense and longitudinally irregular rugae, posterolateral sides with rugae more irregular, interspaces with dense and distinct foveolae. Occipital lobes with thick, irregular rugae and rugofoveolate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes rugoreticulate to rugofoveolate, sometimes with additional longitudinal to irregular, thick rugae. Gena with relatively dense and thick, longitudinal rugae and rugoreticulate 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 two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 54B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed slightly inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, slightly wider than and approximately the same height as inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed slightly outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity (Fig. 64L ). 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 short, with moderately wide base and acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 54D ). Surface shiny with fine rugofoveolae; pronotal dorsum with reduced sculpture and additional thin, interrupted, and transverse rugae; lateral sides of pronotum and katepisternum with smooth notches. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 54D, F ). Petiole. Shiny with fine foveolae; node smooth to finely foveolate, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally straight to slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 54D, F ). 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. 54D, F ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig. 54D, F ). Colour. Ferruginous; legs, gaster, and antennae bright brown (Fig. 54D, F ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.46-0.62 (0.56); HW: 0.42-0.57 (0.49); SL: 0.51-0.67 (0.61); EL: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); WL: 0.58-0.78 (0.69); PSL: 0.06-0.11 (0.09); MTL: 0.36-0.53 (0.46); PNW: 0.28-0.39 (0.33); PTW: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.11-0.17 (0.14); CI: 106.0-118.7 (123.4); SI: 112.1-139.2 (123.4); PSLI: 11.3-18.8 (16.2); PPI: 50.6-74.2 (60.6); PNI: 62.8-70.3 (67.6); MTI: 77.0-101.0 (92.3).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly concave or straight (Fig. 54A ). Pilosity relatively dense, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture shiny and variable; predominantly smooth or foveolate with foveolae sparse and fading on medial frons and area posterolateral from eyes; vertex with sparse and short rugulae; frons with very sparse, short, and irregular rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture or predominantly smooth; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and smooth to indistinctly foveolate interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 54A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately high and short, arched; promesonotal groove indistinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular (Fig. 54C ). Sculpture shiny with sparse rugofoveolae; promesonotal dorsum and katepisternum with smooth notches or smooth; pronotum with additional sparse, short, and transverse rugulae. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 54C, E ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 54C, E ). Colour. Brown, legs and antenna yellowish brown (Fig. 54C, E ).

Etymology.

From the type locality.

Biology.

The species was collected between 390-1657 m in elevation, in rainforest, montane rainforest, montane ravine forest, and in urban areas. Nests were located in rotten logs, rotten sticks on the ground, and in soil.

Comments.

Pheidole sofia sp. nov. is a widespread species known from Ambositra in Fianarantsoa north to Joffreville in Antsiranana. The species is most similar to parapatric P. manantenina sp. nov., known from Parc National de Marojejy in Antsiranana. Major workers of P. sofia sp. nov. differ from P. manantenina sp. nov. in medial part of frons with interspaces finely foveolate, lateral sides of frons with more longitudinally irregular rugae, body ferruginous, and promesonotum never with reduced sculpture; minor workers can be separated based on more distinct sculpture on head, and mesosoma with sparse rugofoveolae, promesonotal dorsum and katepisternum with smooth notches or smooth, and presence of additional sparse, short, and transverse rugulae on pronotum.

Figures

Figure 54. Pheidole sofia sp. nov., full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT 0923280) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT 0705626).

Figure 64. Major worker, hypostomal teeth. Pheidole masoandro sp. nov. (A). Pheidole mavohavoana sp. nov. (B). Pheidole midongy sp. nov. (C). Pheidole mikros sp. nov. (D). Pheidole mivory sp. nov. (E). Pheidole nitidobruna sp. nov. (F). Pheidole parvula sp. nov. (G). Pheidole parvulogibba sp. nov. (H). Pheidole renirano sp. nov. (I). Pheidole sava sp. nov. (J). Pheidole sikorae Forel (K). Pheidole sofia sp. nov. (L). Pheidole sparsa sp. nov. (M). Pheidole tampony sp. nov. (N). Pheidole trichotos sp. nov. (O). Pheidole tsaravoniana sp. nov. (P). Pheidole vadum sp. nov. (Q). Pheidole veteratrix Forel (R). Pheidole volontany sp. nov. (S). Pheidole vony sp. nov. (T).

Figure 67. Distribution. Pheidole renirano sp. nov. (A). Pheidole sava sp. nov. (B). Pheidole sikorae Forel (C). Pheidole sofia sp. nov. (D). Pheidole sparsa sp. nov. (E). Pheidole tampony sp. nov. (F). Pheidole trichotos sp. nov. (G). Pheidole tsaravoniana sp. nov. (H). Pheidole vadum sp. nov. (I). Pheidole veteratrix Forel (J). Pheidole volontany sp. nov. (K). Pheidole vony sp. nov. (L).