Pheidole curvistriata, 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 curvistriata sp. nov. Figs 52A-F , 84L , 86L

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Fianarantsoa; Parc National de Ranomafana, Sahamalaotra River, 6.6 km 310°NW Ranomafana; -21.23667, 47.39667; alt. 1150 m; 31 Mar 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF08623, CASENT0492904, top specimen (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •9 w., 8s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0492900-CASENT0492903, CASENT0872240, CASENT0492905, CASENT0872174-CASENT0872184 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Antsiranana: •2w., 2s., 1m.; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 28.0 km 24.8°NE Andapa; -14.43461, 49.76074; alt. 780 m; 13 Feb 2018; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0807397-CASENT0807399 (CASC). - Fianarantsoa: •8w., 6s.; 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly; -21.51167, 47.41; alt. 1075 m; 3 Jun 2005; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0060845, CASENT0060847, CASENT0060859, CASENT0060861, CASENT0060936, CASENT0060937, CASENT0060940, CASENT0060941 (CASC). •2w., 2s.; Ambinanindranomena Non-Protected Area, 39.45 km SE Ambalavao; -21.95386, 47.29427; alt. 1069 m; 1 Feb 2012; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0293938, CASENT0293939 (CASC). •1w.; Parc National de Ranomafana, Sahamalaotra River, 6.6 km 310°NW Ranomafana; -21.23667, 47.39667; alt. 1150 m; 31 Mar 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0492823 (CASC). •12w., 10s.; Parc National de Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231°SW Ranomafana; -21.29, 47.43333; alt. 1100 m; 27 Mar 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0040349, CASENT0497398, CASENT0497453, CASENT0497454, CASENT0497614, CASENT0497616, CASENT0497627, CASENT0497629 (CASC). - Toamasina: •3w., 1m.; Ankerana; -18.40829, 48.82107; alt. 750 m; 23 Jan 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0274813, CASENT0274814 (CASC). •2w., 2s.; Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana; -18.80388, 48.40506; alt. 1013 m; 12 Dec 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0300845, CASENT0301767 (CASC). •4w., 3s., 1q.; Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Tsaravoniana; -18.76124, 48.42134; alt. 939 m; 3 Dec 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0297031, CASENT0297032, CASENT0297063, CASENT0297075 (CASC). •2s.; F.C. Andriantantely; -18.695, 48.81333; alt. 530 m; 4 Dec 1998; Ratsirarson leg.; CASENT0198897 (CASC). - Toliara: •1s.; 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.; CASENT0479331 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head in full face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly; sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; frons with fine, irregularly rugoreticulate, interspaces finely foveolate; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, thick and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner but higher, with rounded tips, and wide base; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; propodeal spines moderately long, narrow, with base slightly wider than top; first gastral tergite finely shagreened. Minor workers. Whole head foveolate, thick, sparse and longitudinal rugae overlie foveolate sculpture on frons and malar area; sparse, irregular to arcuate, thick rugae overlie foveolate sculpture on vertex; promesonotum low, short, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate, with sparse, thick, and irregular rugae overlying foveolae, katepisternum smooth.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 1.62-1.73 (1.67); HW: 1.49-1.64 (1.57); SL: 0.66-0.73 (0.69); EL: 0.17-0.2 (0.18); WL: 1.15-1.26 (1.18); PSL: 0.23-0.27 (0.25); MTL: 0.68-0.73 (0.7); PNW: 0.67-0.79 (0.73); PTW: 0.19-0.22 (0.21); PPW: 0.61-0.7 (0.65); CI: 91.6-95.7 (94.1); SI: 41.1-45.7 (43.8); PSLI: 13.8-15.8 (14.9); PPI: 29.1-34.7 (31.8); PNI: 44.7-48.7 (46.3); MTI: 42.7-45.7 (44.6). Head. In full-face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes convex (Fig. 52B ). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming indistinct transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces superficially rugulae; frons with thick, sparse, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulose; lateral sides of head with fine, irregularly rugoreticulate, interspaces finely foveolate; malar area with dense and thin longitudinal or irregular rugulae; genae with fine, thin, moderately dense to dense rugulae. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with thin, longitudinal rugulae on lateral sides; median notch present, narrow and moderately deep; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect (Fig. 52B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, thick, and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner but higher, with rounded tips, and wide base; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity (Fig. 84L ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and relatively low, posterior mesonotum steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, narrow, with base slightly wider than top, apex rounded; humeral area with small and flat tubercles (Fig. 52D ). Surface shiny, finely rugoreticulate, katepisternum and lower anepisternum smooth, lateral sides of propodeum with few thick, longitudinal rugae. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 52D, F ). Petiole. Shiny, finely foveolate; peduncle short, with small, rounded, horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and narrow, with convex apex, in rear view node relatively straight; pilosity moderately dense and erect (Fig. 52D, F ). Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae; short and rounded; in dorsal view sides with relatively long, triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately dense, and erect (Fig. 52D, F ). Petiole. First gastral tergite shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 52D, F ). Colour. Unicolourous, brown; legs dark yellow (Fig. 52D, F ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.62-0.68 (0.66); HW: 0.53-0.63 (0.6); SL: 0.6-0.67 (0.64); EL: 0.1-0.13 (0.12); WL: 0.74-0.84 (0. 8); PSL: 0.12-0.13 (0.12); MTL: 0.49-0.55 (0.52); PNW: 0.38-0.44 (0.42); PTW: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); PPW: 0.13-0.19 (0.15); CI: 86.1-94.5 (90.6); SI: 105.5-112.8 (108.6); PSLI: 17.8-19.2 (18.6); PPI: 47.8-56.5 (52.2); PNI: 68.9-72.7 (70.8); MTI: 85.6-91.9 (87.6). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct, weakly developed (Fig. 52A ). Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Whole head foveolate, thick, sparse and longitudinal rugae overlie foveolate sculpture on frons and malar area; sparse, irregular to arcuate, thick rugae overlie foveolate sculpture on vertex. Clypeus shiny, foveolate to rugae; median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity erect (Fig. 52A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines short, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 52C ). Sculpture foveolate, with sparse, thick, and irregular rugae overlying foveolae, katepisternum smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 52C, E ). Petiole. Peduncle moderately short and thin; with few long, erect setae (Fig. 52C, E ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 52C, E ). Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 52C, E ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellowish brown to brown (Fig. 52C, E ).

Etymology.

Latin for arcuate rugae, in reference to head sculpture in minor workers.

Biology.

The species was collected between 530-1150 m in elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs, twigs, and stumps.

Comments.

Pheidole curvistriata sp. nov. is most similar to P. mantadia sp. nov. and P. moramanaensis sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole curvistriata sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. mantadia sp. nov. and P. moramanaensis sp. nov. by absence of fine foveolae sculpture on frons, moderately high and thick inner hypostomal teeth, which are higher than wide, and thin, high, outer hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Pheidole curvistriata sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. mantadia sp. nov. and P. moramanaensis sp. nov. by frons and malar area with distinct, longitudinal rugae, vertex with indistinct irregular to arcuate rugae, presence of irregular rugae on mesosoma, and never smooth mesonotum.

Figures

Figure 52. Pheidole curvistriata sp. nov., full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT 0492901) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT 0492904).

Figure 84. Hypostomal teeth. Pheidole aelloea sp. nov. (A). P. ala sp. nov. (B). P. andapa sp. nov. (C). P. ankerana sp. nov. (D). P. annemariae Forel (E). P. avaratra sp. nov. (F). P. bemarahaensis sp. nov. (G). P. bemarivoensis sp. nov. (H). P. binara sp. nov. (I). P. boribora sp. nov. (J). P. brevipilosa sp. nov. (K). P. curvistriata sp. nov. (L). P. diakritos sp. nov. (M). P. ehazoara sp. nov. (N). P. ensifera Forel (O). P. ferruginea sp. nov. (P). P. fisaka sp. nov. (R). P. fitarata sp. nov. (S). P. glabra sp. nov. (T). P. goavana sp. nov. (U). P. lamperos sp. nov. (W). P. longipilosa sp. nov. (X). P. longispinosa Forel (Y). P. lutea sp. nov. (Z).

Figure 86. Distribution. Pheidole aelloea sp. nov. (A). P. ala sp. nov. (B). P. andapa sp. nov. (C). P. ankerana sp. nov. (D). P. annemariae Forel (E). P. avaratra sp. nov. (F). P. bemarahaensis sp. nov. (G). P. bemarivoensis sp. nov. (H). P. binara sp. nov. (I). P. boribora sp. nov. (J). P. brevipilosa sp. nov. (K). P. curvistriata sp. nov. (L). P. diakritos sp. nov. (M). P. ehazoara sp. nov. (N). P. ensifera Forel (O). P. ferruginea sp. nov. (P). P. fisaka sp. nov. (R). P. fitarata sp. nov. (S). P. glabra sp. nov. (T). P. goavana sp. nov. (U).