Pheidole madinika, Salata & Fisher, 2020
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.905.39592 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F4C766E4-633A-4103-9FFD-E952718F41FB |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/71B60910-DAC6-4F59-9391-CAC0112B6562 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:71B60910-DAC6-4F59-9391-CAC0112B6562 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole madinika |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole madinika sp. nov. Figs 78A-F View Figure 78 , 84A View Figure 84 , 87D View Figure 87
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antsiranana; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 27.9 km 24.3°NE Andapa; -14.43462, 49.75853; alt. 850 m; 9 Feb 2018; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF40907, CASENT0808089 (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •2w., 1m.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0808090, CASENT0923166, CASENT0872173 (CASC).
Other material.
Madagascar. - Antsiranana: •1w., 2s.; Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 27.6 km 35°NE Andapa, 9.6 km 327°NNW Manantenina; -14.435, 49.76; alt. 775 m; 15 Nov 2003; B.L. Fisher et. al. leg.; CASENT0494713, CASENT0494715 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Major workers. Small species: HL: 0.98-1.06 (1.02), HW: 0.91-0.94 (0.92, WL: 0.73-0.83 (0.78); head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior and posterior sides of eyes relatively convex; sides of head with sparse, moderately long, erect pilosity; antennal scrobes present, weakly impressed, and indistinctly delimited, scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, longitudinal rugulae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, lobe-like; gaster smooth; body dark brown. Minor workers. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture or partially smooth; promesonotum low, long, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; propodeal spines small; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum foveolate with smooth notch.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 3): HL: 0.98-1.06 (1.02); HW: 0.91-0.94 (0.92); SL: 0.41-0.45 (0.43); EL: 0.11-0.14 (0.12); WL: 0.73-0.83 (0.78); PSL: 0.13-0.16 (0.14); MTL: 0.42-0.46 (0.44); PNW: 0.45-0.51 (0.48); PTW: 0.12-0.14 (0.13); PPW: 0.28-0.35 (0.31); CI: 88.8-92.3 (90.3); SI: 45.6-48.4 (47.0); PSLI: 12.7-14.7 (13.7); PPI: 39.3-43.3 (41.7); PNI: 49.7-53.9 (51.5); MTI: 46.4-48.8 (47.8). Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior and posterior sides of eyes relatively convex (Fig. 78B View Figure 78 ). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming indistinct transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, moderately long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes present, indistinctly delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, longitudinal rugulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth, and with fine but distinct foveolae on the upper half of frons; malar area with dense, thick, longitudinal to irregular rugulae, interspaces foveolate; genae shiny, with fine rugulae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide, and indistinct; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 78B, D View Figure 78 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, lobe-like (Fig. 85A View Figure 85 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately long, relatively low and convex, posterior mesonotum steep, with small, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; propodeal spines small, triangular, with rounded apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 78D View Figure 78 ). Surface shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae, additional sparse and thin rugae on promesonotal dorsum and sometimes propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsal and lateral surfaces of pronotum; katepisternum and lower parts of lateral surfaces of propodeum smooth. Pilosity sparse, long and subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 78D, F View Figure 78 ). Petiole. Shiny and foveolate; peduncle short, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node straight; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 78D, F View Figure 78 ). Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae, smooth on dorsum; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 78D, F View Figure 78 ). Petiole. Shiny and smooth; pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 78D, F View Figure 78 ). Colour. Unicolourous, dark brown; lower part of lateral sides of mesosoma, malar area and frons yellowish brown (Fig. 78D, F View Figure 78 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 3): HL: 0.42-0.48 (0.45); HW: 0.38-0.42 (0.4); SL: 0.4-0.42 (0.41); EL: 0.08-0.09 (0.08); WL: 0.49-0.53 (0.51); PSL: 0.07-0.07 (0.07); MTL: 0.3-0.32 (0.31); PNW: 0.26-0.26 (0.26); PTW: 0.06-0.07 (0.06); PPW: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); CI: 87.1-90.7 (89.2); SI: 100.5-105.2 (102.3); PSLI: 15.4-16.0 (15.7); PPI: 63.7-70.4 (67.5); PNI: 62.8-68.8 (65.7); MTI: 75.75-79.5 (77.1). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 78A View Figure 78 ). Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture or partially smooth. Clypeus foveolate; median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity suberect (Fig. 78A, C View Figure 78 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small, indistinct, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 78C View Figure 78 ). Sculpture foveolate, katepisternum foveolate with smooth notch. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 78C, E View Figure 78 ). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node low, triangular and small; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 78C, E View Figure 78 ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 78C, E View Figure 78 ). Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 78C, E View Figure 78 ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 78C, E View Figure 78 ).
Etymology.
Malagasy for small, in reference to small body size.
Biology.
The species was collected between 775-850 in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs.
Comments.
Pheidole madinika sp. nov. is most similar to P. masoala sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole madinika sp. nov. differs from P. masoala sp. nov. in dark brown body colouration, absence of transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes, and weakly impressed and not distinctly delimited antennal scrobes. Minor workers. Pheidole madinika sp. nov. differs from P. masoala sp. nov. by steep posterior declivity of promesonotum, and relatively deep and distinct metanotal groove.
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