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 longipilosa sp. nov. Figs 39A-F , 84X , 87B Type material. Holotype . Madagascar. •1 major worker; Toliara; Foret Classee d'Analavelona , 29.2 km 343°NNW Mahaboboka; -22.675, 44.19; alt. 1100 m; 18 Feb 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0498298 (CASC). Paratypes . Madagascar. •9w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0235043, CASENT0498295-CASENT0498297, CASENT0872154-CASENT0872158 (CASC). Other material. Madagascar. - Fianarantsoa : •1w.; Parc National d'Isalo , Sahanafa River, 29.2 km 351°N Ranohira; -22.31333 , 45.29167 ; alt. 500 m; 10 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0031767 (CASC). - Toliara : •7w., 4s., 3q.; Foret Classee d'Analavelona , 29.2 km 343°NNW Mahaboboka; -22.675, 44.19; alt. 1100 m; 18 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0031011, CASENT0031099, CASENT0049501, CASENT0073507, CASENT0235043, CASENT0496936, CASENT0496937, CASENT0496938 (CASC). •1w., 5s.; Foret Classee d'Analavelona , 29.4 km 343°NNW Mahaboboka; -22.675 , 44.18667 ; alt. 1050 m; 21 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0023935, CASENT0023938, CASENT0023943, CASENT0023946, CASENT0023947, CASENT0024032 (CASC). Diagnosis. Major workers . Head in full-face view sub-oval; sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae not fading posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward, and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth taller and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, lobe-like, directed outward; gaster smooth. Minor workers . Head shiny, foveolate, with additional short, longitudinal, thick rugae on frons, genae with fading sculpture and smooth notch; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum low, convex, short, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum smooth; propodeal spines short, triangular. Description. Major workers. Measurements ( N = 10): HL: 1.05-1.11 (1.09); HW: 0.98-1.04 (1.0); SL: 0.46-0.52 (0.48); EL: 0.13-0.16 (0.13); WL: 0.84-0.97 (0.88); PSL: 0.14-0.17 (0.15); MTL: 0.47-0.5 (0.49); PNW: 0.52-0.58 (0.54); PTW: 0.12-0.14 (0.13); PPW: 0.35-0.4 (0.37); CI: 90.0-93.9 (91.7); SI: 46.5-51.8 (48.1); PSLI: 12.5-15.4 (13.7); PPI: 31.9-39.0 (34.9); PNI: 53.1-55.5 (54.3); MTI: 45.8 -50.9 (48.8). Head . In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes slightly convex, posterior of eyes convex (Fig. 39B ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, very long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with thick, longitudinal, and long rugae; interspaces distinctly rugulose. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae not fading posteriorly; frons with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth, with indistinct rugulae weakening anteriorly; genae shiny, with dense and thin, irregular rugulae, central part with smooth notch; malar area with thin, longitudinal, dense rugae, interspaces with distinct rugulae. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, narrow, and moderately deep; median longitudinal carina present, indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity erect (Fig. 39B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward, and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth taller and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, lobe-like, directed outward (Fig. 84X ). Mesosoma . In lateral view, promesonotum relatively high and arched, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small to moderately long, triangular, with sharp apex and wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 39D ). Surface shiny, promesonotum foveolate with additional indistinct, sparse rugoreticulations, sometimes sculpture fading on dorsal surface and lower parts of lateral sides; katepisternum rugoreticulate, with smooth notch; anepisternum and lateral sides of propodeum with distinct rugoreticulation; dorsoventral side of propodeum smooth or with indistinct sculpture. Pilosity moderately dense, very long, and erect (Fig. 39D, F ). Petiole . Shiny; peduncle short, finely foveolate, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node with fading sculpture, relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity long and erect (Fig. 39D, F ). Postpetiole . Shiny, finely shagreened, with dorsum at least partially smooth; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, long and erect (Fig. 39D, F ). Petiole . Shiny and smooth, only basal part of first gastral tergite finely shagreened; pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig. 39D, F ). Colour . Reddish brown to bright brown (Fig. 39D, F ). Figure 39. Pheidole longipilosa sp. nov., full-face view ( A ), profile ( C ), and dorsal view ( E ) of paratype minor worker (CASENT0235043) and full-face view ( B ), profile ( D ), and dorsal view ( F ) of holotype major worker (CASENT0498298). Minor workers. Measurements ( N = 10): HL: 0.49-0.55 (0.51); HW: 0.44-0.47 (0.45); SL: 0.46-0.47 (0.46); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.57-0.6 (0.58); PSL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); MTL: 0.33-0.36 (0.34); PNW: 0.29-0.32 (0.31); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.1-0.12 (0.11); CI: 85.7-90.4 (88.6); SI: 100.2-105.6 (103.0); PSLI: 18.1-21.8 (20.0); PPI: 56.5-64.5 (60.8); PNI: 65.9-70.1 (68.2); MTI: 73.5-80.1 (76.1). Head . Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 39A ). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head shiny, foveolate, with additional short, longitudinal, thick rugae on frons; genae with fading sculpture and smooth notch. Clypeus smooth, with basal part finely rugulose; median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae indistinct. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 39A, C ). Mesosoma . In lateral view, promesonotum low, convex, short, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex (Fig. 39C ). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum smooth; anepisternum and mesonotum with fading sculpture and sometimes smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 39C, E ). Petiole . Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 39C, E ). Postpetiole . Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 39C, E ). Petiole . With moderately sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 39C, E ). Colour . Yellow (Fig. 39C, E ). Etymology. Latin for long pilosity, in reference to the very long pilosity on sides of head in major workers. Biology. The species was collected between 500-1100 m in elevation, in montane and gallery forests. Nests were located in rotten logs.