Pheidole fitarata, 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 fitarata sp. nov. Figs 46A-F , 84S , 86S

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antsiranana; Ampasindava, Forêt d’Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181°S Ambaliha; -13.79861, 48.16167; alt. 600 m; 4 Mar 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; BLF03293, CASENT0420028 (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •4w., 1s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0420024-CASENT0420027, CASENT0872215-CASENT0872217 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Antsiranana: •1s.; Ambondrobe, 41.1km 175° Vohemar; -13.71533, 50.10167; alt. 10 m; 29 Nov 2004; B.L. Fisher leg.; CASENT0056078 (CASC). •1w., 4s.; Ampasindava, Forêt d’Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181°S Ambaliha; -13.79861, 48.16167; alt. 600 m; 4 Mar 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0406700, CASENT0420217, CASENT0420226, CASENT0464109, CASENT0464294 (CASC). •2s.; Forêt d’ Andavakoera, 21.4 km 75°ENE Ambilobe; 4.6 km 356°N Betsiaka; -13.11833, 49.23; alt. 425 m; 15 Dec 2003; B.L. Fisher leg.; CASENT0044135, CASENT0044209 (CASC). •1s.; Montagne des Français, 7.2 km 142°SE Antsiranana (=Diego Suarez); -12.32278, 49.33817; alt. 180 m; 22 Feb 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0461044 (CASC). •1s.; Nosy Be, Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Lokobe, 6.3 km 112°ESE Hellville; -13.41933, 48.33117; alt. 30 m; 19 Mar 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0462968 (CASC). •1s.; R.S. Manongarivo, 12.8 km 228°SW Antanambao; -13.97667, 48.42333; alt. 780 m; 11 Oct 1998; B.L. Fisher leg.; CASENT0198865 (CASC). •3s.; Réserve Spéciale d’Ambre, 3.5 km 235°SW Sakaramy; -12.46889, 49.24217; alt. 325 m; 26 Jan 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0406576, CASENT0423829, CASENT0423892 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana, 13.6 km 192°SSW Anivorano Nord; -12.86361, 49.22583; alt. 210 m; 16 Feb 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0420164, CASENT0420181 (CASC). •7s., 1q.; Réserve Spéciale de l’Ankarana, 22.9 km 224°SW Anivorano Nord; -12.90889, 49.10983; alt. 80 m; 10 Feb 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0420207, CASENT0439168, CASENT0439173, CASENT0439183, CASENT0439197, CASENT0439313, CASENT0439315, CASENT0008034 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Head in full-face view elongated; sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes smooth to indistinctly foveolate, with thick, sparse, short, transverse, and sometimes arcuate rugae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth thinner than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, triangular. Minor workers. Head foveolate, genae smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum low, convex, short, with posterior declivity relatively convex; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum with smooth notch; propodeal spines short, triangular.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 1.13-1.43 (1.29); HW: 0.91-1.12 (1.07); SL: 0.43-0.53 (0.49); EL: 0.12-0.17 (0.14); WL: 0.79-1.02 (0.92); PSL: 0.16-0.21 (0.18); MTL: 0.51-0.59 (0.55); PNW: 0.45-0.64 (0.56); PTW: 0.11-0.19 (0.16); PPW: 0.29-0.47 (0.41); CI: 77.9-88.4 (82.7); SI: 43.5-49.0 (46.5); PSLI: 12.7-15.3 (14.0); PPI: 34.8-42.9 (38.2); PNI: 49.1-56.7 (52.8); MTI: 48.4 -56.1 (52.0). Head. In full-face view longitudinal, longer than wide, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex, occipital margin of lobes straight, inclining toward centre (Fig. 46B ). 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 visible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate, with thick, longitudinal, short, and interrupted rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, smooth to indistinctly foveolate, with thick, sparse, short, transverse, and sometimes arcuate rugae; frons with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth and indistinctly foveolate on the posterior part, rugae weakening posteriorly and never connected with rugae on the occipital lobes; genae shiny and smooth; malar area with thick, longitudinal, moderately sparse rugae, interspaces smooth. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, not reaching the mid-length of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 46B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth thinner than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, triangular (Fig. 84S ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with sharp apex and wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 46D ). Surface finely foveolate, dorsal surface of promesonotum with fading sculpture and sometimes with smooth notch; katepisternum with smooth notch; lower half of lateral sides of propodeum with additional longitudinal rugae. Pilosity sparse, very long, and erect (Fig. 46D, F ). Petiole. Shiny; peduncle moderately long, finely foveolate, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 46D, F ). Postpetiole. Shiny and finely shagreened, dorsum with fading sculpture; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long to moderately long, and erect (Fig. 46D, F ). Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 46D, F ). Colour. Bright brown to brown; legs, lower frons, malar area and lower parts of lateral sides of mesosoma yellowish brown (Fig. 46D, F ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 6): HL: 0.45-0.47 (0.46); HW: 0.39-0.41 (0.4); SL: 0.44-0.46 (0.45); EL: 0.07-0.1 (0.08); WL: 0.52-0.56 (0.55); PSL: 0.08-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.33-0.36 (0.35); PNW: 0.26-0.28 (0.27); PTW: 0.06-0.06 (0.06); PPW: 0.09-0.1 (0.1); CI: 85.9-89.5 (87.7); SI: 111.0-113.6 (111.6); PSLI: 17.3-20.4 (18.5); PPI: 61.0-65.2 (62.5); PNI: 66.4-68.8 (67.8); MTI: 82.8-89.4 (86.7). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 46A ). Pilosity moderately dense, long, suberect. Head shiny, foveolate; genae smooth. Clypeus smooth or finely foveolate; 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 suberect to erect (Fig. 46A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, convex, short, with posterior declivity relatively convex; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex (Fig. 46C ). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum with smooth notch. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 46C, E ). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 46C, E ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; sometimes with few short, erect setae (Fig. 46C, E ). Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 46C, E ). Colour. Yellow (Fig. 46C, E ).

Etymology.

Malagasy for mirror, in reference to smooth and shiny genae of major workers.

Biology.

The species was collected between 10-780 m in elevation, in rainforest, in tropical dry forest, and in littoral rainforest. Nests were located rotten logs.

Comments.

Pheidole fitarata sp. nov. is most similar to P. rugofitarata sp. nov. and P. avaratra sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole fitarata sp. nov. differs from P. rugofitarata sp. nov. in less distinct and interrupted longitudinal rugae on frons and antennal scrobes, lack of connection between rugae on frons and occipital lobes, smooth genae, and never lobe-like outer hypostomal teeth; from P. avaratra sp. nov. in presence of longitudinal, thick, and interrupted rugae on frons and antennal scrobes, frons with rugae weakening posteriorly and never connected with rugae on the occipital lobes, genae smooth, and smaller and directed inward inner hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Pheidole fitarata sp. nov. differs from P. avaratra sp. nov. in longer and lower promesonotum and katepisternum with smooth notch.

Figures

Figure 46. Pheidole fitarata sp. nov., full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT 0420025) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT 0420028).

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).