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 binara sp. nov. Figs 80A-F , 84I , 86I Type material. Holotype . Madagascar. •1 major worker; Antsiranana; Binara forest; -13.26388 , 49.60141 ; alt. 500 m; 19 Sep 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF32213, CASENT0353299 (CASC). Paratypes . Madagascar. •1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923182 (CASC). Diagnosis. Major workers . Small species: HL: 1.03, HW: 0.97, WL: 0.8; head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes convex; sides of the head with moderately sparse, long, erect pilosity; antennal scrobes present and indistinctly delimited ventrally and posteriorly by carinulae, scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with thick, longitudinal to irregular, and long rugae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth thinner, smaller, and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, dentate; gaster finely shagreened; body yellowish brown. Minor workers . Head foveolate, genae with fading sculpture but never smooth; promesonotum low, moderately convex, short, with relatively convex posterior declivity; propodeal spines short; mesosoma foveolate. Description. Major workers. Measurements ( N = 1): HL: 1.03; HW: 0.97; SL: 0.49; EL: 0.14; WL: 0.8; PSL: 0.15; MTL: 0.48; PNW: 0.52; PTW: 0.14; PPW: 0.37; CI: 93.8; SI: 50.8; PSLI: 14.4; PPI: 38.6; PNI: 53.9; MTI: 49.3. Head . In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex (Fig. 80B ). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of head with moderately sparse, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and indistinctly delimited ventrally and posteriorly by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with thick, longitudinal to irregular, and long rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae; frons with moderately dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces distinctly rugo-foveolate; genae shiny, with dense and thin, irregular rugoreticulation; malar area with thin, longitudinal, dense rugoreticulation. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, wide, and moderately deep; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly surpassing the midlength of head; pilosity suberect (Fig. 80B, D ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth thinner, smaller, and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, dentate (Fig. 84I ). Mesosoma . In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, posterior mesonotum steep, without tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines short, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; humeral area laterally well produced (Fig. 80D ). Surface shiny, foveolate, and with additional short, transverse to irregular, thick rugae on the dorsal surface of propodeum. Pilosity sparse, very long, and erect (Fig. 80D, 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 long and erect (Fig. 80D, F ). Postpetiole . Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long and erect (Fig. 80D, F ). Petiole . Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 80D, F ). Colour . Yellowish brown; frons, occipital lobes; dorsal surface of mesosoma and gaster brown (Fig. 80D, F ). Figure 80. Pheidole binara sp. nov., full-face view ( A ), profile ( C ), and dorsal view ( E ) of paratype minor worker (CASENT0923182) and full-face view ( B ), profile ( D ), and dorsal view ( F ) of holotype major worker (CASENT0353299). Minor workers. Measurements ( N = 1): HL: 0.48; HW: 0.44; SL: 0.43; EL: 0.09; WL: 0.58; PSL: 0.09; MTL: 0.34; PNW: 0.29; PTW: 0.07; PPW: 0.13; CI: 90.3; SI: 99.1; PSLI: 18.8; PPI: 53.5; PNI: 66.8; MTI: 77.1. Head . Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct (Fig. 80A ). Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae with fading sculpture but never 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 erect (Fig. 80A, C ). Mesosoma . In lateral view, promesonotum low, moderately convex, short, with relatively convex posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex (Fig. 80C ). Sculpture foveolate. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 80C, E ). Petiole . Peduncle short and thin; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 80C, E ). Postpetiole . Moderately short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 80C, E ). Petiole . With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 80C, E ). Colour . Yellow (Fig. 80C, E ). Etymology. From the type locality. Biology. The species was collected between 498-900 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs. Comments. Pheidole binara sp. nov. is most similar to P. masoala sp. nov. and P. fisaka sp. nov. Major workers . Pheidole binara sp. nov. differs from P. masoala sp. nov. in absence of shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes, weakly developed antennal scrobes which are not delimited ventrally and posteriorly by carinulae, presence of distinct sculpture between thick rugae on frons and occipital lobes, and never smooth katepisternum; from P. fisaka sp. nov. in never smooth surface between rugae on frons, never smooth katepisternum, and distinct foveolation on propodeal dorsum. Minor workers . Pheidole binara sp. nov. differs from P. masoala sp. nov. in never smooth sculpture on frons and katepisternum; from P. fisaka sp. nov. in longer and lower promesonotum, and uniformly foveolate mesosoma sculpture.