Pheidole uranus, Salata & Fisher, 2020

Salata, Sebastian & Fisher, Brian L., 2020, The ant genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar-taxonomic revision of the bessonii species-group, Zootaxa 4843 (1), pp. 1-64 : 54-56

Pheidole uranus sp. nov.

Figs 24 A–F, 27P, 28P

HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Toliara, Anosy Region, Anosyenne Mts , 31.2 km NW Manantenina, -24.13894 47.06804, 1125 m, 26-Feb-2015, rainforest, ex root mat, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. BLF36505, CASENT0704257 ( CASC) . PARATYPES: 1w., the same data as holotype, CASENT0923260 ( CASC) .

Other material. Madagascar. Toliara: 4w., 2s ., 1m., 1q., Anosy Region, Anosyenne Mts , 31.2 km NW Manantenina, -24.13894 47.06804, 1125 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 2w., 1s., 1m . , Anosy Region, Anosyenne Mts , 31.2 km NW Manantenina, -24.13632 47.05485, 1315 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC).

Geographic range. Madagascar, Toliara, Anosyenne Mts.

Diagnosis. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral margins slightly convex; side of head with dense, long, erect pilosity; medial frons with moderately sparse and thick rugae; interspaces between rugae smooth; frons laterally with dense rugae; interspaces between rugae reticulate; occipital lobes mostly smooth, posteriorly with sparse and weakly developed rugae; scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; inner hypostomal tooth distinct, moderate and bulge-like, with top arching posteroventrally; outer hypostomal tooth bulge-like, high, and wide, with top arching posteroventrally; median tooth absent; promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum smoothly descending towards propodeum; mesonotal process very distinct and tubercle-like; mesosoma rugoreticulate; promesonotal dorsum with reduced rugoreticulae and few additional transverse and thick rugae; gaster indistinctly shagreened at base of first tergite; body brown. Minor workers. Occiput slightly elongated; nuchal collar indistinct; head sculpture mostly smooth; frons with weakly developed and sparse puncta; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by three-fifths of its length; promesonotum low, moderately long, and arched; promesonotal groove distinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and with wide base; mesosoma mostly smooth; pronotum, mesonotum, and propodeum with weakly developed and sparse puncta; body brown.

Description. Major workers. Measurements (n=4): HL: 2.08–2.16 (2.12); HW: 2.09–2.14 (2.11); SL: 1.19– 1.24 (1.21); EL: 0.21–0.25 (0.23); WL: 1.82–1.91 (1.86); PSL: 0.33–0.37 (0.35); MTL: 1.38–1.41 (1.4); PNW: 0.81–0.97 (0.86); PTW: 0.26–0.29 (0.27); PPW: 0.69–0.76 (0.72); CI: 99.0–103.3 (100.4); SI: 56.5–59.0 (57.5); PSLI: 15.6–17.5 (16.6); PPI: 35.6–38.5 (37.3); PNI: 38.8–45.4 (40.8); MTI: 65.8–67.3 (66.5).

Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral sides slightly convex ( Fig. 24B ). In lateral view sub-oval, not depressed posteriorly; ventral and dorsal margins convex; inner hypostomal tooth visible. Side of head with dense, long, and erect pilosity; head dorsum with relatively dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial frons with moderately sparse and thick rugae; interspaces between rugae smooth. Frons laterally with dense rugae; interspaces between rugae reticulate. Occipital lobes mostly smooth; posteriorly with sparse and weakly developed rugae. Gena with dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly rugulate. Sides posterolateral from eyes with dense and thinner network of rugoreticulae. Center of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with distinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity appressed and subdecumbent ( Fig. 24B, D ). Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, moderate and bulge-like, with top arching posteroventrally; outer hypostomal tooth bulge-like, high, and wide, with top arching posteroventrally; median tooth absent ( Fig. 27P ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum smoothly descending towards propodeum; mesonotal process very distinct and tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines long with narrow base and acute top; humeral tubercle weakly produced ( Fig. 24D ). Surface shiny and rugoreticulate; promesonotal dorsum with reduced rugoreticulae and few additional transverse, thick rugae. Pilosity moderately dense, moderately long, and erect ( Fig. 24D, F ). Gaster. Shiny and indistinctly shagreened at base of first tergite; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 24D, F ). Color. Brown, legs and antennae slightly brighter ( Fig. 24D, F ).

Description. Minor workers. Measurements (n=5): HL: 0.79–0.95 (0.87); HW: 0.57–0.67 (0.62); SL: 1.11– 1.19 (1.15); EL: 0.15–0.17 (0.16); WL: 1.13–1.32 (1.2); PSL: 0.1–0.14 (0.12); MTL: 0.95–1.09 (1.04); PNW: 0.41– 0.51 (0.46); PTW: 0.09–0.13 (0.11); PPW: 0.17–0.22 (0.19); CI: 132.0–143.4 (139.3); SI: 178.8–193.7 (185.7); PSLI: 12.8–15.5 (14.2); PPI: 50.6–70.1 (57.4); PNI: 70.7–77.0 (73.5); MTI: 164.0–177.1 (167.3).

Head. In full-face view oval, posterior region slightly elongated; nuchal collar weakly developed ( Fig. 24A ). Pilosity sparse, moderately long and subdecumbent. Sculpture shiny and mostly smooth; frons with weakly developed and sparse puncta. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by three-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 24A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, moderately long, and arched; promesonotal groove distinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular, with wide base ( Fig. 24C ). Sculpture mostly smooth; pronotum, mesonotum, and propodeum with weakly developed and sparse puncta. Pilosity very sparse, short, and erect ( Fig. 24C, E ). Gaster. With sparse and erect pilosity ( Fig. 24C, E ). Color. Bright brown ( Fig. 24C, E ).

Biology. The species was collected between 1125–1315 m elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and root mats.

Comments. Pheidole uranus is known only from the Anosyenne Mts. in Toliara. Its major workers are most similar to two species known from northern parts of the island: P. madecassa and sympatric P. maro . Majors of P. uranus can be easily separated based on presence of dense rugae with reticulate interspaces on lateral frons, sparse and weakly developed rugae on posterior occipital lobes, dense pilosity on side of head, and darker body coloration. Majors of P. madecassa and P. maro have lateral frons with weaker sculpture, posterior occipital lobes with reduced or absent sculpture, sparser pilosity on side of head, and orange to brownish orange body. Minors of P. uranus are most similar to P. ovalinoda and can be separated based on more elongated posterior portion of head, and mostly smooth mesosoma. Minors of P. ovalinoda have less elongated posterior portion of head, and partially sculptured mesosoma.

Etymology. Named after the Greek god of the sky, in reference to the high elevation of the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Pheidole uranus, full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT0235036) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT0704257).

FIGURE 27. Major worker, hypostomal tooth. Pheidole antsahabe (A). Pheidole atsirakambiaty (B). Pheidole bessonii (C). Pheidole clara (D). Pheidole decollata (E). Pheidole flammea (F). Pheidole flavodepressa (G). Pheidole grallatrix (H). Pheidole madecassa (I). Pheidole mantadioflava (J). Pheidole maro (K). Pheidole oswaldi (L). Pheidole ovalinoda (M). Pheidole similis (N). Pheidole tenebrovulgaris (O). Pheidole uranus (P). Pheidole voreios (Q). Pheidole zirafy (R).