Pheidole mamiratra, 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 mamiratra sp. nov. Figs 41A-F , 63W , 66C

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Antananarivo; Station Forestière Angavokely; -18.92207, 47.74157; alt. 1460 m; 9 Mar 2013; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex soil; BLF31319; CASENT0303725 (CASC). Paratypes. • 2w., 1q.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923291, CASENT0303724 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Antananarivo: • 2w., 1s., 1m.; Station Forestière Angavokely; -18.92207, 47.74157; alt. 1460 m; 9 Mar 2013; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ground nest; BLF31350 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex, in lateral view sub-oval, ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial frons with moderately sparse, thick rugae, anteriorly longitudinal and interrupted, posteromedially rugae irregular, interspaces shiny and predominantly smooth, with sparse and indistinct, irregular rugulae; lateral sides with rugae that are longitudinal anteriorly to irregular posteriorly, thick and relatively sparse rugae with distinctly rugoreticulate interspaces; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes never smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced, connected by indistinct concavity; pronotum and mesonotum predominantly smooth with indistinct rugofoveolae and transverse rugae; katepisternum, anepisternum, and propodeum with sparse rugofoveolae; body yellow. Minor workers. Head foveolate; medial part of frons and vertex with strongly reduced sculpture and predominantly smooth; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum moderately low and short; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines very small and triangular; mesosoma smooth; body yellow.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 2): HL: 0.95, 0.99; HW: 0.97, 1.03; SL: 0.65, 0.65; EL: 0.13, 0.12; WL: 0.94, 0.95; PSL: 0.16, 0.17; MTL: 0.65, 0.61; PNW: 0.41, 0.44; PTW: 0.13, 0.14; PPW: 0.25, 0.26; CI: 97.8, 96.3; SI: 67.5, 62.6; PSLI: 17.1, 17.2; PPI: 52.6, 57.0; PNI: 41.8, 42.7; MTI: 67.6, 59.1.

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex (Fig. 41B ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with moderately sparse, thick rugae, anteriorly longitudinal and interrupted, posteromedially rugae irregular, interspaces shiny and predominantly smooth, with sparse and indistinct irregular rugulae; lateral sides with rugae longitudinal anteriorly to irregular posteriorly, thick and relatively sparse rugae with distinctly rugoreticulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with sparse, thick, and irregular rugae; interspaces smooth. Gena with relatively dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae and smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes predominantly smooth, with sparse and indistinct rugoreticulae. Centre of clypeus smooth 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 two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 41B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced, connected by indistinct concavity (Fig. 63W ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, moderately wide, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 41D ). Surface shiny; pronotum and mesonotum predominantly smooth with indistinct rugofoveolae and transverse rugae; katepisternum, anepisternum, and propodeum with sparse rugofoveolae. Pilosity relatively dense, long, and erect (Fig. 41D, F ). Petiole. Shiny with fine and dense rugofoveolae; peduncle; node partially smooth, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 41D, F ). Postpetiole. Shiny and smooth; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 41D, F ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 41D, F ). Colour. Yellow; mandibles and gaster slightly darker (Fig. 41D, F ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 4): HL: 0.56-0.59 (0.58); HW: 0.47-0.51 (0.49); SL: 0.59-0.61 (0.6); EL: 0.1-0.11 (0.11); WL: 0.69-0.74 (0.71); PSL: 0.08-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.48-0.51 (0.5); PNW: 0.31-0.35 (0.33); PTW: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.14-0.16 (0.15); CI: 115.3-121.7 (117.8); SI: 116.1-127.3 (122.3); PSLI: 13.9-15.6 (14.7); PPI: 55.6-70.6 (60.6); PNI: 64.7-68.8 (66.4); MTI: 99.6-102.7 (101.2).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly concave or straight (Fig. 41A ). Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture foveolate; medial part of frons and vertex with strongly reduced sculpture and predominantly smooth; area posterolateral from eyes smooth. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 41A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately low and short, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present and distinct; propodeal spines very small and triangular (Fig. 41C ). Sculpture smooth. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 41C, E ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and relatively flat; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 41C, E ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 41C, E ). Colour. Yellow, vertex slightly darker (Fig. 41C, E ).

Etymology.

Malagasy for "to shine" or "to give light" in reference to bright body colouration.

Biology.

The species was collected at 1460 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were in soil.

Comments.

Pheidole mamiratra sp. nov. is a member of a group of species characterised by body colouration that is bright and yellow to orange in majors and yellow in minors, sub-oval, not widening posteriorly head with sides not convex or convex indistinctly, and medial part of frons with longitudinal and rugae interrupted anteriorly and distinctly irregular posteriorly. The group includes three taxa: P. vony sp. nov., P. befotaka sp. nov., and P. mamiratra sp. nov. Pheidole mamiratra sp. nov. is known from Station Forestière Angavokely in Antananarivo and its distribution does not overlap with two remaining members of the group. Morphologically P. mamiratra sp. nov. is most similar to P. vony sp. nov., known only from two localities in Toamasina: Montagne d’Anjanaharibe and Montagne d’Akirindro. Major workers of P. mamiratra sp. nov. differ from P. vony sp. nov. in medial part of frons with moderately sparse and thick rugae and inner hypostomal teeth small and triangular with rounded apex directed upward and outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth; minors differ in less distinctly foveolate head sculpture with predominantly smooth frons and entirely smooth area posterolateral from eyes. Additionally, minor and major workers of P. mamiratra sp. nov. can be also confused with P. sparsa sp. nov., known from Bemanevika in Mahajanga, and sympatric P. hazo sp. nov., described from the vicinity of Antananarivo. Majors of P. mamiratra sp. nov. differ from P. sparsa sp. nov. and P. hazo sp. nov. in median frons with distinctly irregular rugae and more irregular sculpture on later sides of frons and outer hypostomal teeth wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth; additionally, majors of sympatric P. hazo sp. nov. differ in lack of smooth notches on katepisternum. Minor workers of P. mamiratra sp. nov. differ from P. sparsa sp. nov. and P. hazo sp. nov. in medial part of frons and vertex with strongly reduced sculpture, predominantly smooth vertex, and lack of additional, indistinct rugulae on head.

Figures

Figure 41. Pheidole mamiratra sp. nov., full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT 0923291) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT 0303725).

Figure 63. Major worker, hypostomal teeth. Pheidole alina sp. nov. (A). Pheidole ambohimanga sp. nov. (B). Pheidole analavelona sp. nov. (C). Pheidole andohahela sp. nov. (D). Pheidole anomala sp. nov. (E). Pheidole anosyenne sp. nov. (F). Pheidole antranohofa sp. nov. (G). Pheidole beanka sp. nov. (H). Pheidole befotaka sp. nov. (I). Pheidole dasos sp. nov. (J). Pheidole flavominuta sp. nov. (K). Pheidole gracilis sp. nov. (L). Pheidole haboka sp. nov. (M). Pheidole havoana sp. nov. (N). Pheidole hazo sp. nov. (O). Pheidole itremo sp. nov. (P). Pheidole joffreville sp. nov. (Q). Pheidole kely sp. nov. (R). Pheidole lavasoa sp. nov. (S). Pheidole litigiosa Forel (T). Pheidole mahamavo sp. nov. (U). Pheidole mainty sp. nov. (V). Pheidole mamiratra sp. nov. (W). Pheidole manantenina sp. nov. (X).

Figure 66. Distribution. Pheidole mahamavo sp. nov. (A). Pheidole mainty sp. nov. (B). Pheidole mamiratra sp. nov. (C). Pheidole manantenina sp. nov. (D). Pheidole masoandro sp. nov. (E). Pheidole mavohavoana sp. nov. (F). Pheidole midongy sp. nov. (G). Pheidole mikros sp. nov. (H). Pheidole mivory sp. nov. (I). Pheidole nitidobruna sp. nov. (J). Pheidole parvula sp. nov. (K). Pheidole parvulogibba sp. nov. (L).