Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Madagascar - an introduction and a taxonomic revision of eleven species groups Author Salata, Sebastian Author Fisher, Brian L. text ZooKeys 2020 905 1 235 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.905.39592 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.905.39592 1313-2970-905-1 F4C766E4633A41039FFDE952718F41FB 4C7E0CB428DF56BDB15B7AC8D6707961 Pheidole ala sp. nov. Figs 59A-F , 84B , 86B Type material. Holotype . Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antananarivo; 3 km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe; -18.47333, 47.96; alt. 1300 m; 5 Dec 2000; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF02480, CASENT0413606, middle specimen (CASC). Paratypes . Madagascar. •6w., 2s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0427741, CASENT0427742, CASENT0872080, CASENT0872192-CASENT0872195 (CASC). Other material. Madagascar. - Antananarivo : •4w., 3s.; 3 km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe; -18.47333, 47.96; alt. 1300 m; 5 Dec 2000; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0413601, CASENT0413608, CASENT0413609, CASENT0427739, CASENT0427740, CASENT0427745, CASENT0427747 (CASC). •3w., 8s.; Reserve Speciale d'Ambohitantely , Foret d Ambohitantely, 20.9 km 72°NE d Ankazobe; -18.22528 , 47.28683 ; alt. 1410 m; 17 Apr 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0437257, CASENT0437264, CASENT0437267, CASENT0479788, CASENT0479789, CASENT0479790, CASENT0480418, CASENT0480437 (CASC). •3w., 1q.; Reserve Speciale d'Ambohitantely ; -18.18762 , 47.28576 ; alt. 1580 m; 8 Mar 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0274613, CASENT0274614 (CASC). - Antsiranana : •1w., 1s., 1q.; 6.5 km SSW Befingotra, Res . Anjanaharibe-Sud; -14.75, 49.5; alt. 875 m; 28 Oct 1994; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198550 (CASC). •1w., 1s., 1q.; 9.2 km WSW Befingotra, Res . Anjanaharibe-Sud; -14.75, 49.46667; alt. 1200 m; 8 Nov 1994; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198551 (CASC). - Fianarantsoa : •1s.; R.S. Ivohibe 8.0 km E Ivohibe; -22.48333 , 46.96833 ; alt. 1200 m; 15 Oct 1997; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198029 (CASC). - Toamasina : •1s.; Montagne d'Anjanaharibe , 19.5 km 27°NNE Ambinanitelo; -15.17833 , 49.635 ; alt. 1100 m; 12 Mar 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0038234 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Reserve Betampona, Camp Vohitsivalana, 37.1 km 338° Toamasina; -17.88667 , 49.2025 ; alt. 520 m; 2 Dec 2005; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0067738 (CASC). -Toliara: •2w., 1q.; Parc National d'Andohahela , Col du Sedro, 3.8 km 113°ESE Mahamavo, 37.6 km 341°NNW Tolagnaro; -24.76389 , 46.75167 ; alt. 900 m; 21 Jan 2002; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0430763, CASENT0430764 (CASC). Diagnosis. Major workers . Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex; sides of head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, irregular rugae; closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth slightly thinner and approximately as high as inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately narrow base, triangular; gaster smooth; body bright brown to dark brown. Minor workers . Head foveolate, genae smooth; promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesosoma smooth; propodeal spines minute, triangular; body yellow. Description. Major workers. Measurements ( N = 10): HL: 1.09-1.27 (1.18); HW: 1.03-1.21 (1.11); SL: 0.46-0.53 (0.49); EL: 0.12-0.17 (0.14); WL: 0.85-0.95 (0.9); PSL: 0.16-0.18 (0.17); MTL: 0.46-0.56 (0.51); PNW: 0.55-0.64 (0.59); PTW: 0.13-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.34-0.49 (0.44); CI: 91.3-96.0 (94.1); SI: 41.7-47.1 (44.1); PSLI: 13.6-16.1 (14.4); PPI: 31.0-40.8 (35.3); PNI: 51.0-54.6 (53.0); MTI: 44.2-48.0 (45.9). Head . In full-face view longer than wide, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 59B ). 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 not visible. Sides of the head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, moderately short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, irregular rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with indistinct, sparse, irregular rugae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces distinctly to finely rugo-foveolate; genae shiny, with fine rugulae; malar area with dense, thin rugoreticulation. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 59B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex, and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth slightly thinner and approximately as high as inner hypostomal teeth, and with moderately narrow base, triangular (Fig. 84B ). Mesosoma . In lateral view, promesonotum short, relatively low, and convex, dorsal mesonotum slightly concave, posterior mesonotum steep, with small, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small, triangular, with rounded apex; humeral area laterally well produced (Fig. 59D ). Surface shiny, with fine but distinct foveolae or rugo-foveolae, and with additional sparse, fine, and irregular rugae; katepisternum smooth; lateral sides of pronotum and propodeum with fading sculpture. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 59D, F ). Petiole . Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 59D, F ). Postpetiole . Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with moderately long, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 59D, F ). Petiole . Shiny and smooth; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 59D, F ). Colour . Bright brown to brown; legs yellow to bright brown (Fig. 59D, F ). Figure 59. Pheidole ala sp. nov., full-face view ( A ), profile ( C ), and dorsal view ( E ) of paratype minor worker (CASENT0427742) and full-face view ( B ), profile ( D ), and dorsal view ( F ) of holotype major worker (CASENT0413606). Minor workers. Measurements ( N = 10): HL: 0.47-0.52 (0.49); HW: 0.42-0.46 (0.44); SL: 0.44-0.48 (0.45); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.58-0.63 (0.6); PSL: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.34-0.39 (0.37); PNW: 0.28-0.3 (0.28); PTW: 0.07-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.1-0.13 (0.12); CI: 86.0-90.2 (88.5); SI: 100.2-108.4 (104.4); PSLI: 14.7-18.2 (16.3); PPI: 53.1-66.1 (60.7); PNI: 62.8-67.9 (65.4); MTI: 80.6 -86.5 (83.8). Head . Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 58A ). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae smooth. Clypeus with fine and sometimes reduced foveolae; 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 erect (Fig. 59A, C ). Mesosoma . In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with posterior declivity smoothly declining toward propodeum; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines minute, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 59C ). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesonotum smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 59C, E ). Petiole . Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node low, bulge-like, and small; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 59C, E ). Postpetiole . Moderately short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 59C, E ). Petiole . With moderately sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 59C, E ). Colour . Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 59C, E ). Etymology. Malagasy for forest, in reference to habitat of the species. Biology. The species was collected between 520-1410 m in elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs, and in rotten twigs on the ground. Diagnosis. Pheidole ala sp. nov. is most similar to P. nemoralis . Major workers . Pheidole ala sp. nov. differs from P. nemoralis in frons with rugo-foveolate sculpture between rugae and never shagreened gaster. Minor workers . Pheidole ala sp. nov. differs from P. nemoralis in mesosoma with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum, smooth genae, and minute propodeal spines.