Pheidole parviocula, 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 parviocula sp. nov. Figs 19A-F , 85P , 87U

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antananarivo; Ankalalahana; -19.00716, 47.1124; alt. 1370 m; 3 Jan 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF31313, CASENT0303345 (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1 w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923187 (CASC).

Other material.

Madagascar. - Antananarivo: •2w., 2s.; Andohony I Non-Protected Area, 22.62 km SW Antsirabe; -20.06784, 46.99068; alt. 1451 m; 6 Mar 2012; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0302331, CASENT0302483 (CASC). •2w.; Antaponimanadala I Non-Protected Area, 6.59 km E Manalalondo; -19.25528, 47.1771; alt. 1984 m; 13 May 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0211687, CASENT0211787 (CASC). •3s.; Antaponimanadala III Non-Protected Area, 6.55 km E Manalalondo; -19.25583, 47.17751; alt. 1987 m; 17 May 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0236559, CASENT0284933, CASENT0284998 (CASC). •2w., 1s., 1m.; Antaponimanadala IV Non-Protected Area, 6.66 km E Manalalondo; -19.25361, 47.17634; alt. 1951 m; 15 May 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0228718, CASENT0228735 (CASC). •1w.; Beapombo II Non-Protected Area, 22.65 km SW Antsirabe; -20.07022, 47.00555; alt. 1689 m; 28 Feb 2012; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0292480 (CASC). •1w.; Navoatra II Non-Protected Area, 7.54 km NW Arivonimamo; -18.97889, 47.11975; alt. 1357 m; 6 May 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0203015 (CASC). - Fianarantsoa: •3w., 1s.; Ambinanindranomena Non-Protected Area, 39.16 km SE Ambalavao; -21.96077, 47.29125; alt. 1002 m; 3 Feb 2012; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0285095, CASENT0289395, CASENT0289462, CASENT0289567 (CASC). •3w., 1s.; Ampanenitra Non-Protected Area, 41.19 km SE Ambalavao; -21.9652, 47.31001; alt. 1010 m; 8 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0289604, CASENT0289694, CASENT0289797, CASENT0292637 (CASC). •4w.; Ampangabe IV Non-Protected Area, 21.37 km W Itremo; -20.61278, 46.60774; alt. 1417 m; 21 Mar 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0236453, CASENT0236497, CASENT0236524, CASENT0236525 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Mampiarika III Non-Protected Area, 28.93 km SW Ambositra; -20.73583, 47.08399; alt. 1487 m; 1 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0165724, CASENT0165857 (CASC). •1w.; Manandriana I Non-Protected Area, 27.11 km SW Ambositra; -20.73194, 47.09413; alt. 1590 m; 9 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0167038 (CASC). •1s., 1m.; Manandriana III Non-Protected Area, 27.25 km SW Ambositra; -20.73333, 47.09391; alt. 1578 m; 8 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0206047, CASENT0210577 (CASC). •1w.; Soanierenana I Non-Protected Area, 25.33 km SW Ambositra; -20.72139, 47.10994; alt. 1723 m; 6 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0207108 (CASC). •3s.; Soanierenana III Non-Protected Area, 25.25 km SW Ambositra; -20.72194, 47.11019; alt. 1707 m; 5 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0213472, CASENT0213840, CASENT0213844 (CASC). •1w., 1s., 1m.; Soanierenana IV Non-Protected Area, 25.22 km SW Ambositra; -20.72389, 47.10705; alt. 1736 m; 5 Feb 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0168320, CASENT0168431 (CASC). - Toliara: •1w.; Réserve Spéciale Kalambatritra; -23.4185, 46.4583; alt. 1365 m; 8 Feb 2009; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0149620 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Eyes small and reduced; body yellow; head rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex; sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes and genae shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct, very sparse, longitudinal rugulae; frons and malar area shiny, with thick, sparse, short, and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth; propodeal spines absent or weakly developed, lobe-like; mesosoma shiny, with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation, sculpture on dorsum weaker or with smooth patches; inner hypostomal teeth indistinct, very low, lobe-like, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, dentate, and with rounded tops directed outward. Minor workers. Eyes small and reduced; body yellow; head and mesosoma shiny and smooth; propodeal spines indistinct, triangular.

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.72-1.07 (0.93); HW: 0.6-0.83 (0.74); SL: 0.36-0.48 (0.43); EL: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); WL: 0.7-0.88 (0.8); PSL: 0.08-0.12 (0.1); MTL: 0.37-0.46 (0.43); PNW: 0.38-0.53 (0.47); PTW: 0.11-0.16 (0.14); PPW: 0.23-0.32 (0.28); CI: 76.1-82.9 (80.1); SI: 55.8-61.4 (58.4); PSLI: 9.7-12.2 (11.0); PPI: 45.2-54.6 (49.1); PNI: 60.0-65.5 (63.2); MTI: 54.7-62.9 (58.0). Head. In full-face view elongate, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 19B ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces moderately convex; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes absent. Occipital lobes and genae shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct, very sparse, longitudinal rugulae; frons and malar area shiny, with thick, sparse, short and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with a few longitudinal rugae on the lateral sides; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching slightly over the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect (Fig. 19B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth indistinct, very low, lobe-like, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, dentate, and with rounded tops directed outward (Fig. 85P ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and low, posterior mesonotum convex, with low tubercle-like projection; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines absent or weakly developed, lobe-like; humeral area with short triangular tubercles (Fig. 19D ). Surface shiny, with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation, sculpture on dorsum weaker or with smooth patches. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 19D, F ). Petiole. Peduncle relatively long, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and globular, with convex apex, in rear view node concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect (Fig. 19D, F ). Postpetiole. Smooth and shiny; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and tubercle-like projections; pilosity long, moderately dense and erect (Fig. 19D, F ). Gaster. Smooth and shiny; pilosity dense, short and erect (Fig. 19D, F ). Colour. Yellow, malar area and lower part of frons dark yellow to bright brown (Fig. 19D, F ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.45-0.51 (0.49); HW: 0.4-0.45 (0.44); SL: 0.34-0.37 (0.35); EL: 0.04-0.06 (0.05); WL: 0.5-0.58 (0.55); PSL: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); MTL: 0.25-0.31 (0.29); PNW: 0.26-0.3 (0.29); PTW: 0.07-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); CI: 86.4-92.8 (89.6); SI: 76.9-85.4 (81.1); PSLI: 9.3-13.5 (11.8); PPI: 60.2-72.4 (65.1); PNI: 59.1-70.1 (65.9); MTI: 62.4-71.5 (66.9). Head. In full-face view rectangular, posterior and anterior of eyes slightly convex, occipital margin straight or indistinctly convex; occipital carina absent (Fig. 19A ). Pilosity moderately dense, short, subdecumbent to suberect. Whole head shiny and smooth, only antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching posterior head margin; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 19A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum convex; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines indistinct, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 19C ). Sculpture smooth and shiny. Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long and erect (Fig. 19C, E ). Petiole. Peduncle moderately short and thin; node globular and moderately high; with few long, erect setae (Fig. 19C, E ). Postpetiole. Moderately short, low, and slightly convex; with few long, erect setae at the anterior edge (Fig. 19C, E ). Gaster. Pilosity moderately dense, erect, and moderately long (Fig. 19C, E ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 19C, E ).

Etymology.

Latin for small eyes.

Biology.

The species was collected at elevation between 1002-1987 m, in savannah grassland, in Uapaca woodland, in savannah woodland, and in grassland. Nests were located in soil, under stones, and in dead tree stumps.

Comments.

This species is most similar to P. typhlos sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole parviocula sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. typhlos sp. nov. by dense, relatively long pilosity on sides of the head, small, lobe-like inner hypostomal teeth and weakly developed or absent propodeal spines. Minor workers. Pheidole parviocula sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. typhlos sp. nov. by convex shape of promesonotum convex, presence of promesonotal groove and weakly developed, small, triangular, apex acute.

Figures

Figure 19. Pheidole parviocula sp. nov., full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT 0923187) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT 0303345).

Figure 85. Hypostomal teeth. Pheidole madinika sp. nov. (A). P. mahaboensis sp. nov. (B). P. maizina sp. nov. (C). P. makaensis sp. nov. (D). P. makirovana sp. nov. (E). P. manantenensis sp. nov. (F). P. mantadia sp. nov. (G). P. marieannae sp. nov. (H). P. masoala sp. nov. (I). P. mavesatra sp. nov. (J). P. miramila sp. nov. (K). P. moramanaensis sp. nov. (L). P. navoatrensis sp. nov. (M). P. nemoralis Forel (N). P. ocypodea sp. nov. (O). P. parviocula sp. nov. (P). P. petax Forel (Q). P. podargea sp. nov. (R). P. praegrandis sp. nov. (S). P. ranohirensis sp. nov. (T). P. rugocephala sp. nov. (U). P. rugofitarata sp. nov. (V). P. scabrata Forel (W). P. typhlos sp. nov. (X). P. vatovavensis sp. nov. (Y). P. voasara sp. nov. (Z). P. vohemarensis sp. nov. (AA). P. zavamanira sp. nov. (AB).

Figure 87. Distribution. Pheidole lamperos sp. nov. (A). P. longipilosa sp. nov. (B). P. longispinosa Forel (C). P. lutea sp. nov. (D). P. madinika sp. nov. (E). P. mahaboensis sp. nov. (F). P. maizina sp. nov. (G). P. makaensis sp. nov. (H). P. makirovana sp. nov. (I). P. manantenensis sp. nov. (J). P. mantadia sp. nov. (K). P. marieannae sp. nov. (L). P. masoala sp. nov. (M). P. mavesatra sp. nov. (N). P. miramila sp. nov. (O). P. moramanaensis sp. nov. (P). P. navoatrensis sp. nov. (R). P. nemoralis Forel (S). P. ocypodea sp. nov. (T). P. parviocula sp. nov. (U).