Pheidole voreios, 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 : 57-59

Pheidole voreios sp. nov.

Figs 25 A–F, 27Q, 28Q

HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, 10-Feb-2001, tropical dry forest, ex rotten log, Fisher et al. leg. BLF02932, CASENT0406635( CASC) . PARATYPES: 6w.,2s.,the same data as holotype, CASENT0406634,CASENT0406636, CASENT0872257, CASENT0406633 ( CASC, MHNG, PBZT) .

Other material. Madagascar, Antsiranana: 1w., 1s., Forêt d’ Andavakoera, 21.4 km 75° ENE Ambilobe; 4.6 km 356° N Betsiaka, -13.11833 49.23, 425 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Forêt d’Ampombofofo , -12.09949 49.33874, 25 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 2w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 3w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, -12.86361 49.22583, 210 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 2w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 6w., 4s., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana , 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889 49.10983, 80 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., Sahamalaza Peninsula, Forêt d’Anabohazo , 21.6 km 247° WSW Maromandia, -14.30889 47.91433, 120 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 2w., Sahamalaza Peninsula, Forêt d’Anabohazo , 21.6 km 247° WSW Maromandia, -14.30889 47.91433, 120 m, Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC)

Geographic range. Madagascar, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana, Forêt d’ Andavakoera, Forêt d’Ampombofofo, and Forêt d’Anabohazo.

Diagnosis. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral margins relatively straight; side of head with sparse, long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial frons with moderately thick and dense costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate; frons laterally with sparser costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate; occipital lobes with thin and sparse rugulae that arch posterolaterally; interspaces between rugulae punctate; sculpture weakening posteriorly; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal tooth very small and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top arching posteroventrally; median tooth present and indistinct; promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum moderately steep; mesonotal process distinct and tubercle-like; mesosoma punctate; promesonotum with additional thin, sparse, and transverse rugae; katepisternum and propodeum with additional sparse rugae; gaster shagreened; body brown. Minor workers. Occiput elongated; nuchal collar distinct; head sculpture mostly smooth; anterior frons with sparse puncta; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by half of its length; promesonotum low, long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and narrow; mesosoma microreticulate; promesonotum with sparser sculpture; promesonotal dorsum mostly to entirely smooth; body brown.

Description. Major workers. Measurements (n=9): HL: 1.65–1.81 (1.74); HW: 1.5–1.68 (1.6); SL: 1.15–1.24 (1.19); EL: 0.23–0.27 (0.24); WL: 1.62–1.74 (1.68); PSL: 0.21–0.31 (0.27); MTL: 1.34–1.42 (1.37); PNW: 0.61– 0.66 (0.63); PTW: 0.19–0.27 (0.22); PPW: 0.49–0.63 (0.57); CI: 106.4–112.1 (109.2); SI: 69.7–79.0 (74.9); PSLI: 13.0–17.4 (15.4); PPI: 34.4–42.9 (38.0); PNI: 37.4–41.3 (39.3); MTI: 80.9–93.7 (86.0).

Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral sides relatively straight ( Fig. 25B ). In lateral view sub-oval, not depressed posteriorly; ventral and dorsal margins convex; inner hypostomal tooth not visible. Side of head with sparse, long, suberect to erect pilosity; head dorsum with relatively dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial frons with moderately thick and dense costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Frons laterally with sparser costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Occipital lobes with thin and sparse rugulae that arch posterolaterally; interspaces between rugulae punctate; sculpture weakening posteriorly. Gena with dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Sides posterolateral from eyes with dense but thin rugoreticulae. Center of clypeus shiny and mostly smooth, lateral sides with distinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 25B, D ). Inner hypostomal tooth very small and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top arching posteroventrally; median tooth present and weakly developed ( Fig. 27Q ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low; posterior mesonotum moderately steep; mesonotal process distinct and tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; propodeal spines moderately long with wide base and acute top; humeral tubercle weakly produced ( Fig. 25D ). Surface shiny and punctate; promesonotum with additional, thin, sparse, and transverse rugae; katepisternum and propodeum with additional sparse rugae. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect ( Fig. 25D, F ). Petiole. In rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex ( Fig. 25D, F ). Gaster. Dull and shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 25D, F ). Color. Brown, antennae and legs yellowish brown ( Fig. 25D, F ).

Description. Minor workers. Measurements (n=8): HL: 0.77–0.85 (0.81); HW: 0.53–0.59 (0.56); SL: 1.09– 1.2 (1.15); EL: 0.16–0.18 (0.17); WL: 1.08–1.21 (1.15); PSL: 0.11–0.13 (0.12); MTL: 1.01–1.1 (1.05); PNW: 0.39–0.44 (0.42); PTW: 0.09–0.11 (0.1); PPW: 0.14–0.18 (0.17); CI: 142.6–148.3 (145.3); SI: 202.6–209.9 (206.3); PSLI: 12.8–16.6 (15.4); PPI: 52.9–66.4 (59.4); PNI: 71.2–77.3 (74.6); MTI: 184.7–194.9 (188.8).

Head. In full-face view oval, posterior region elongated; nuchal collar distinct ( Fig. 25A ). Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and mostly smooth; anterior frons with sparse puncta. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by half of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 25A, C ).

Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular, narrow ( Fig. 25C ). Sculpture microreticulate; promesonotum with sparser sculpture and mostly to entirely smooth dorsum. Pilosity very sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 25C, E ). Gaster. With sparse and erect pilosity ( Fig. 25C, E ). Color. Brown, legs and antennae yellowish ( Fig. 25C, E ).

Biology. The species was collected between 25–487 m elevation, in tropical dry forest and rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and rotten sticks on the ground. Workers were collected from sifted litter and on low vegetation.

Comments. Pheidole voreios is known from the northern part of the island and is most similar to the widespread and parapatric P. bessonii . Majors of P. voreios can be distinguished based on rugulate occipital lobes, and frons laterally with sparse costulae and distinctly punctate interspaces. In contrast, P. bessonii has punctate occipital lobes and frons laterally rugocostulate. Minors can be separated based on more elongated posterior region of head, microreticulate mesosoma with sculpture weakening on promesonotum, and small and narrow propodeal spines. In contrast, P. bessonii has less elongated posterior region of head, mostly smooth promesonotum, and very small propodeal spines.

Etymology. Greek for northern, in reference to the range of the species.

Figures

FIGURE 25. Pheidole voreios, full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT0406636) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT0406635).

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).