Pheidole diakritos, 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

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.905.39592

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F4C766E4-633A-4103-9FFD-E952718F41FB

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C5CE9E88-6E38-4A9F-BFA3-75D539949159

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:C5CE9E88-6E38-4A9F-BFA3-75D539949159

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Pheidole diakritos
status

sp. nov.

Pheidole diakritos sp. nov. Figs 12A-F View Figure 12 , 84M View Figure 84 , 86M View Figure 86

Type material.

Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Toamasina; Ankerana; -18.40829, 48.82107; alt. 750 m; 21 Jan 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0275436 (CASC). Paratype. Madagascar. •1 w.; Toamasina; Ankerana; -18.4061, 48.82029; alt. 725 m; 16 Jan 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF27931, CASENT0275480 (CASC).

Other material. Madagascar. - Fianarantsoa: •5w.; Forêt de Vevembe, 66.6 km 293° Farafangana; -22.791, 47.18183; alt. 600 m; 23 Apr 2006; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0108005, CASENT0108016, CASENT0108021, CASENT0108022, CASENT0108028 (CASC). - Toamasina: •2w.; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato River; -16.77274, 49.26551; alt. 450 m; 20 Feb 2010; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0164424, CASENT0164471 (CASC). •3w., 2s.; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato River; -16.7633, 49.26692; alt. 520 m; 22 Feb 2010; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0163714, CASENT0163724, CASENT0163831, CASENT0163832, CASENT0163976 (CASC). •1w.; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato River; -16.81739, 49.29402; alt. 360 m; 25 Feb 2010; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0164250 (CASC). •2w.; Ankerana; -18.4061, 48.82029; alt. 725 m; 16 Jan 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0275346, CASENT0275461 (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Major workers. Large species: HL: 1.67-1.91 (1.75), HW: 1.66-1.86 (1.71), WL: 1.23-1.3 (1.27); head in full-face view rectangular; in lateral view sub-rectangular with visible inner hypostomal teeth; antennal scrobes absent; sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; antennal sockets deep; frontal lobes distinct and lobe-like; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and base slightly wider than apex; outer hypostomal teeth absent. Minor workers. Head shiny, with sparse, thick, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth or rugulose; frontal lobes present; antennal sockets deep; propodeal spines long and thin (PSL: 0.17-0.21 (0.19)).

Description.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 5): HL: 1.67-1.91 (1.75); HW: 1.66-1.86 (1.71); SL: 0.8-0.87 (0.85); EL: 0.15-0.16 (0.155); WL: 1.23-1.3 (1.27); PSL: 0.27-0.3 (0.28); MTL: 0.78-0.87 (0.81); PNW: 0.65-0.74 (0.69); PTW: 0.16-0.2 (0.17); PPW: 0.42-0.54 (0.46); CI: 97.1-99.4 (98.3); SI: 46.7-51.6 (48.9); PSLI: 14.8-17.7 (16.3); PPI: 36.1-39.8 (37.7); PNI: 38.9-42.8 (40.3); MTI: 46.9-47.8 (47.2). Head. In full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 12B View Figure 12 ). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes absent. Antennal sockets deep, smooth, or with a few rugae. Frontal lobes distinct and lobe-like. Occipital lobes with thick, sparse rugae; sculpture slightly weakening posteriorly. Whole head shiny, with sparse, thick, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth. Clypeus shiny, with a few longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide, and shallow. Scape, when laid back, just reaching the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect (Fig. 12B, D View Figure 12 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and base slightly wider than apex; outer hypostomal teeth absent (Fig. 84M View Figure 84 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and low, posterior mesonotum convex, with low tubercle-like projection; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines long, massive basally, with acute apex; humeral area with short, triangular tubercles (Fig. 12D View Figure 12 ). Surface shiny, with thick, dense rugoreticulation, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum. Pilosity moderately dense, long and erect (Fig. 12D, F View Figure 12 ). Petiole. Shiny, foveolate; peduncle relatively long, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node, low and narrow, with flat apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally depressed; pilosity moderately dense and erect (Fig. 12D, F View Figure 12 ). Postpetiole. Foveolate; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 12D, F View Figure 12 ). Gaster. Shagreened on the whole surface; pilosity moderately dense, very long and erect (Fig. 12D, F View Figure 12 ). Colour. Unicolourous, dark brown (Fig. 12D, F View Figure 12 ).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.68-0.78 (0.73); HW: 0.59-0.68 (0.64); SL: 0.73-0.83 (0.81); EL: 0.07-0.12 (0.1); WL: 0.89-1.04 (0.98); PSL: 0.17-0.21 (0.19); MTL: 0.56-0.66 (0.62); PNW: 0.44-0.52 (0.49); PTW: 0.08-0.13 (0.1); PPW: 0.12-0.19 (0.16); CI: 85.3-90.2 (87.8); SI: 121.9-129.7 (125.3); PSLI: 25.1-28.7 (26.4); PPI: 59.1-69.3 (64.6); PNI: 73.9-78.4 (76.0); MTI: 92.6-103.0 (97.1). Head. Occipital margin indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct, weakly developed (Fig. 12A View Figure 12 ). Pilosity sparse, long, suberect to erect; antennal sockets deep, smooth or with a few rugae; frontal lobes distinct and lobe-like. Whole head shiny, with sparse, thick, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth or with rugulae. Clypeus rugulose and shiny; median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 12A, C View Figure 12 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum convex; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove present; humeral area with short triangular tubercles; propodeal spines moderately long, with base almost as wide as apex, apex acute (Fig. 12C View Figure 12 ). Pronotum and mesonotum with thick, dense rugoreticulation, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; katepisternum, anepisternum, and propodeum foveolate. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 12C, E View Figure 12 ). Petiole. Shiny; peduncle foveolate, moderately long and thin; node smooth, low, bulge-like; with few long, erect setae (Fig. 12C, E View Figure 12 ). Postpetiole. Sometimes partially foveolate; moderately short, low and slightly convex; with few long, erect setae at the anterior edge (Fig. 12C, E View Figure 12 ). Gaster. Pilosity sparse and erect (Fig. 12C, E View Figure 12 ). Colour. Brown to dark brown, legs brighter (Fig. 12C, E View Figure 12 ).

Etymology. Greek for distinct [διακριτός], in reference to its being the only known species with distinct frontal lobes and deep antennal sockets.

Biology. The species was collected at elevation between 360-865 m, in rainforest, and in montane rainforest. Nesting preferences are unknown.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Pheidole