Pheidole bemarahaensis

The species was collected at 100 m in elevation, in tropical dry forest. Nest was located in a rotten log.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole bemarivoensis complex in the Pheidole nemoralis species group. Major: Small species: HL: 1.05-1.04, HW: 1.01-0.98, WL: 0.76-0.69; head in full-face view square, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex; in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth, only posterior part of frons finely foveolate; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, triangular with relatively narrow base, apex rounded; outer hypostomal teeth slightly higher than inner hypostomal teeth, and with wider base, triangular; gaster indistinctly shagreened; body brown to dark brown. Minor: Head and mesosoma foveolate; promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; propodeal spines moderately long.

Pheidole bemarahaensis is most similar to Pheidole bemarivoensis. Major workers. Pheidole bemarahaensis differs from P. bemarivoensis in at least lower part of frons smooth between rugae, more distinct rugo-foveolate sculpture on genae, and thicker dorsal surface of promesonotum. Minor workers. P. bemarahaensis differs from P.  bemarivoensis in moderately long propodeal spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Major

Nomenclature

 *  bemarahaensis. Pheidole bemarahaensis Salata & Fisher, 2020: 167, figs. 61A–F, 84G, 86G (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 2): HL: 1.05-1.04; HW: 1.01-0.98; SL: 0.49-0.51; EL: 0.14-0.14; WL: 0.76-0.69; PSL: 0.15-0.15; MTL: 0.49-0.46; PNW: 0.45-0.45; PTW: 0.11-0.12; PPW: 0.32-0.33; CI: 95.5-94.2; SI: 49.0-51.9; PSLI: 14.3-14.6; PPI: 34.5-34.5; PNI: 44.9-46.3; MTI: 48.6-47.4. Head. In full-face view square, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes very indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, finely foveolate with sparse, thick, longitudinal to irregular in posterior part rugulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with fine foveolae and distinct, sparse, irregular rugae, sculpture not weakening posteriorly; frons and malar area with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth, and only posterior part of frons finely foveolate; genae shiny, with fine rugo-foveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, narrow, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, triangular with relatively narrow base, apex rounded; outer hypostomal teeth slightly higher than outer hypostomal teeth, and with wider base, triangular. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately short, relatively low and convex, 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. Surface shiny, with fine but distinct foveolae, additional sparse transverse to irregular rugae on promesonotal dorsum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsal surface. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. 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. Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae, smooth on dorsum; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and indistinctly shagreened; pilosity sparse, short, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown; malar area and lower frons bright brown; legs yellow.

Unless otherwise noted above, the following characters occur in this species, and the majority of Pheidole majors of Madagascar described by Salata and Fisher 2020a. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes absent; head in full-face view with distinct median concavity; antenna 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; masticatory margin of mandible with large, stout apical and preapical teeth, followed by a long diastema and then a short and crenulate tooth just before the rounded basal angle; outer surface of mandible mostly smooth and shining, sometimes with weak and sparse foveolae; antennal scrobes present; promesonotum strongly convex, well above the level of propodeum; postpetiole short with slightly convex dorsum; ventral process absent.

Minor (N = 7): HL: 0.48-0.51 (0.49); HW: 0.43-0.47 (0.45); SL: 0.42-0.46 (0.45); EL: 0.1-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.56-0.59 (0.58); PSL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); MTL: 0.32-0.37 (0.35); PNW: 0.28-0.31 (0.29); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.12-0.13 (0.12); CI: 88.8-93.6 (91.1); SI: 98.1-105.1 (100.2); PSLI: 17.9-21.0 (19.8); PPI: 53.4-61.4 (56.3); PNI: 64.1-65.9 (65.2); MTI: 72.5-80.4 (77.1). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity sparse, short, suberect to erect. Head foveolate. Clypeus with fine and sometimes reduced foveolae and rugae; 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 suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, apex acute. Sculpture foveolate. Pilosity sparse, short, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node moderately high, triangular, and small; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Unicolourous, yellow.

Unless otherwise noted above, the following characters occur in this species, and the majority of Pheidole minors of Madagascar described by Salata and Fisher 2020a. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes absent; head in full-face view oval, posterior and anterior of eyes convex; antenna 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; humeral area not developed; clypeus smooth and shiny; its anterior margin regularly convex; promesonotum well above the level of propodeum; petiole smooth; petiole with node moderately low, triangular and small postpetiole smooth; gaster smooth and shiny.

Type Material
Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Mahajanga; Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 2.5 km 62°ENE Bekopaka, Ankidrodroa River; -19.13222, 44.81467; alt. 100 m; 15 Nov 2001; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF04388, CASENT0425236, bottom specimen. Paratypes. Madagascar. •7w., 1s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0425237-CASENT0425239, CASENT0872078, CASENT0872169-CASENT0872172 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.