Pheidole voasara
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Ordo: Hymenoptera
Familia: Formicidae
Genus: Pheidole
Name
Pheidole voasara Salata & Fisher, 2020 sp. nov. – Wikispecies link – ZooBank link – Pensoft Profile
Type material
Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Toliara; Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohijanahary, Forêt d’Ankazotsihitafototra, 35.2 km 312°NW Ambaravaranala; -18.26667, 45.40667; alt. 1050 m; 13 Jan 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF07018, CASENT0050060 (CASC).
Other material
Madagascar. –Fianarantsoa: •1s.; Parc National d’Isalo, 9.1 km 354°N Ranohira; -22.48167, 45.46167; alt. 725 m; 27 Jan 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0036511 (CASC). –Toliara: •2s.; Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohijanahary, Forêt d’Ankazotsihitafototra, 34.6 km 314°NW Ambaravaranala; -18.26, 45.41833; alt. 1100 m; 16 Jan 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0029300, CASENT0029748 (CASC). •1s.; Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohijanahary, Forêt d’Ankazotsihitafototra, 35.2 km 312°NW Ambaravaranala; -18.26667, 45.40667; alt. 1050 m; 13 Jan 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0028086 (CASC).
Diagnosis
Major workers. Head, in full-face view, oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes and genae shiny, with sparse, indistinct and irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base, tops directed inward; outer hypostomal bigger and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, with wide base, lobe-like; mesosoma shiny, shiny, foveolate with additional sparse to moderately dense, and moderately thick, rugae, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; upper part of mesosoma with indistinct sculpture; body yellowish brown.
Description
Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 1.05–1.2 (1.16); HW: 0.96–1.11 (1.06); SL: 0.46–0.52 (0.5); EL: 0.09–0.13 (0.11); WL: 0.79–0.89 (0.85); PSL: 0.12–0.15 (0.13); MTL: 0.46–0.52 (0.49); PNW: 0.46–0.56 (0.53); PTW: 0.13–0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.3–0.42 (0.38); CI: 90.9–94.2 (92.0); SI: 45.3–49.6 (46.9); PSLI: 10.2–13.0 (11.5); PPI: 32.7–43.3 (39.2); PNI: 47.3–52.3 (49.6); MTI: 44.4–48.5 (46.3). Head. In full-face view oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex (Fig. 17C). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with sparse, thick, longitudinal to irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae. Occipital lobes and genae shiny, with sparse, indistinct and irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth; malar area with dense, thick, longitudinal rugulae, interspaces smooth. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide and indistinct; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 17B–C). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base, tops directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth larger and wider than inner, with wide base, lobe-like (Fig. 85Z). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and high, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small, triangular, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 17B). Surface shiny, foveolate with additional sparse to moderately dense, and moderately thick rugae, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; upper part of mesosoma with indistinct sculpture. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 17A, B). Petiole. Shiny and with foveolae; peduncle moderately long, with distinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect (Fig. 17A, B). Postpetiole. Shiny and with foveolae, dorsum partially smooth; short and flat; in dorsal view very wide, almost semi-oval; pilosity long, moderately dense, and erect (Fig. 17A, B). Gaster. Shiny and finely shagreened on the basal part of first tergite; pilosity dense, moderately long and erect (Fig. 17A, B). Colour. Unicolourous, orange to yellowish brown; gaster brown; legs dark yellow (Fig. 17A, B). Minor workers. Unknown.
Etymology
Malagasy for orange, in reference to bright body colouration.
Biology
The species was collected at elevation between 725–1100 m, in gallery forest, and in montane rainforest. Nesting preferences unknown.
Comments
Pheidole voasara sp. nov. is most similar to P. lutea sp. nov. and P. ranohirensis sp. nov. Major workers.Pheidole voasara sp. nov. differs from P. lutea sp. nov. by surface of genae and antennal scrobes foveolate, lobe-like outer hypostomal teeth, inner hypostomal teeth pointed inward, and by anepisternum, katepisternum, and mesosoma never smooth; from P. ranohirensis sp. nov. in distinct and never smooth sculpture on anepisternum and mesosoma, frons never foveolate, and lobe-like outer hypostomal teeth, which are bigger and wider than inner hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Unknown.
Original Description
- Salata, S; Fisher, B; 2020: Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Madagascar – an introduction and a taxonomic revision of eleven species groups ZooKeys, 905: 1-235. doi
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