Key to Pheidole nemoralis species group

This worker key is based on: Salata, S. and B.L. Fisher. 2020a. Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Madagascar – an introduction and a taxonomic revision of eleven species groups. ZooKeys. 905:1–235. doi:10.3897/zookeys.905.39592

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Salata and Fisher 2020a. Figure 56. Pheidole nemoralis, head of major worker (A), profile of minor worker (D), gaster of major worker (E). Pheidole ala, head of major worker (B), profile of minor worker (C), gaster of major worker (F).

Salata and Fisher 2020a. Figure 57. Pheidole bemarivoensis, head of major worker (A–B), propodeal spines of minor worker (E). Pheidole bemarahaensis, head of major worker (C–D), propodeal spines of minor worker (F).

Major workers. Occipital lobes with indistinct to distinct, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces sometimes foveolate; head in full-face view sub-rectangular; dorsal face depressed posteriorly (Fig. 56). Minor workers. Head and mesosoma foveolate with smooth notches on genae and lateral sides of mesosoma (Fig. 56) . . . . . 2

Major workers. Occipital lobes with indistinct, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces foveolate and sculpture weakens posteriorly; head in full-face view square; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly (Fig. 57). Minor workers. Head and mesosoma entirely foveolate (Fig. 57) . . . . . 3

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return to couplet #1

Major workers. Frons with rugo-foveolate sculpture between rugae and gaster smooth (Fig. 56B, F). Minor workers. Mesosoma with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum, genae smooth, propodeal spines minute (Fig. 56C) . . . . . Pheidole ala
Major workers. Frons, at least on the anterior part, with smooth sculpture between rugae, gaster finely shagreened (Fig. 56A, E). Minor workers. Mesosoma with relatively steep posterior declivity, genae never entirely smooth and propodeal spines small (Fig. 56D) . . . . . Pheidole nemoralis

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return to couplet #1

Major workers. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively short, erect pilosity; at least lower part of frons smooth between rugae, genae finely rugo-foveolate (Fig. 57C, D). Minor workers. Propodeal spines moderately long (Fig. 57F) . . . . . Pheidole bemarahaensis

Major workers. Sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; frons finely foveolate between rugae, genae finely foveolate with sculpture sometimes reduced (Fig. 57A, B). Minor workers. Propodeal spines small and indistinct (Fig. 57E) . . . . . Pheidole bemarivoensis