Pheidole masoala species group

Based on Salata & Fisher, 2020.

Species
Pheidole masoala complex Pheidole lamperos complex Pheidole zavamanira complex
 * Pheidole masoala
 * Pheidole madinika
 * Pheidole fisaka
 * Pheidole binara
 * Pheidole andapa
 * Pheidole lamperos
 * Pheidole zavamanira

Species Identification

 * Key to Pheidole masoala species group

Group Diagnosis
Major workers Small species; head in full-face view sub-rectangular or oval, anterior and posterior sides of eyes relatively straight or convex; in lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly (except Pheidole zavamanira); antennal scrobes absent, indistinct or well developed; scrobe surface and lateral sides of head foveolate with or without additional sparse, thick, and irregular to longitudinal rugae or with thick, longitudinal, and long rugae with smooth to indistinctly rugulose interspaces; frons always with thick to thin, longitudinal rugae; occipital lobes with thick irregular rugae, interspaces smooth to rugulae; promesonotum relatively low and evenly angular; promesonotal groove absent; mesosoma never entirely smooth, most often foveolate with additional indistinct, irregular, short rugulae; gaster smooth to finely shagreened; body yellow to black.

Minor workers Head and mesosoma at least partly foveolate, sometimes with additional rugae; genae always with reduced sculpture or smooth; scape, when laid back, reaching the posterior head margin or surpassing it by one- to two-fifths of its length; promesonotum low, long, flat, or slightly convex, with relatively convex to steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; body yellow to dark brown.

Distribution
Madagascar.

Pheidole masoala species complex: widespread within evergreen forest but its distribution centre is located on the northern part of the biome. Pheidole madinika and P. andapa are sympatric and their distribution is limited to Parc National de Marojejy, Antsiranana. Pheidole fisaka is known from several sampling sites located in Ankerana, Toamasina. Pheidole binara was collected in two places in the Antsiranana prefecture: Kalabenono mountain and Binara Forest.

Pheidole lamperos and P. zavamanira each belong to their own single-species complexe and are known only from their type localities. Pheidole lamperos was sampled on the Galoko mountain and may be sympatric with P. binara, as it is known from another mountain of the Galoko chain. Pheidole zavamanira was sampled in several places in Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohijanahary, Toliara.

Additional Resources

 * Pheidole
 * Madagascar