Pheidole moramanaensis

The species was collected between 865–1075 m in elevation, in transition humid forest, rainforest, and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs, rotted twigs on the ground, and dead bamboo above the ground.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole curvistriata species group. Major: Head in full face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly; sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; frons with thin, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth or with indistinct but dense rugulae; low, thick and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth higher than inner hypostomal teeth, thick, with rounded tips, triangular inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; propodeal spines moderately long, with base slightly wider than top; first gastral tergite finely shagreened. Minor:. Whole head foveolate, fading on frons and genae; thin, sparse, longitudinal to irregular rugae overlie foveolate sculpture; promesonotum low, short, flat, or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum and mesonotum smooth.

Pheidole moramanaensis is most similar to Pheidole curvistriata and Pheidole mantadia. Major workers. Pheidole moramanaensis can be distinguished from P. curvistriata by presence of fine foveolate sculpture on frons and mesosoma, low and thick inner hypostomal teeth which are wider than high, and thick outer hypostomal teeth; form P.  mantadia by denser and longer pilosity on head sides, and higher and narrower outer hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Pheidole moramanaensis can be distinguished from P. curvistriata by frons and malar area with thin, longitudinal to irregular rugae, and vertex with thin irregular and never arcuate rugae, absence of irregular rugae on mesosoma, and smooth mesonotum; from P.  mantadia by frons and malar area with thin but distinct, irregular rugae and smooth clypeus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  moramanaensis. Pheidole moramanaensis Salata & Fisher, 2020: 143, figs. 53A–F, 85L, 87P (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 9): HL: 1.61-1.79 (1.69); HW: 1.49-1.68 (1.57); SL: 0.62-0. 7 (0.67); EL: 0.17-0.2 (0.19); WL: 1.15-1.26 (1.2); PSL: 0.23-0.27 (0.26); MTL: 0.62-0.74 (0.68); PNW: 0.71-0.8 (0.75); PTW: 0.2-0.25 (0.22); PPW: 0.58-0.77 (0.7); CI: 91.5-95.2 (93.5); SI: 40.1-45.6 (42.7); PSLI: 14.0-16.2 (15.4); PPI: 28.4-34.0 (31.0); PNI: 45.7-49.5 (47.9); MTI: 41.7-45.1 (43.4). Head. In full-face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes convex. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately long, dense, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth to finely rugulose; frons with thin, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth or with indistinct but dense rugulae; lateral sides of head with thin, dense, longitudinal rugulae, area between rugulae with sparse foveolae; malar area with dense and thin longitudinal rugulae; genae with fine, thin, dense rugulae. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with thin, longitudinal rugulae on the lateral sides; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, low, thick and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth higher than inner hypostomal teeth, thick, with rounded tips, triangular; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and relatively low, posterior mesonotum steep, with small, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, thin, with base slightly wider than top, apex rounded; humeral area with small and flat tubercles. Surface shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae; mesonotum and katepisternum smooth, lateral sides of propodeum with few thick, longitudinal rugae; surface with additional indistinct and sparse rugulae on promesonotum. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; peduncle short, with small, rounded, horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and narrow, with convex apex, in rear view node straight; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; short and rounded; in dorsal view sides with relatively long, acute, horn-like projections; pilosity long, moderately dense, and erect. Petiole. First gastral tergite shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown; legs yellow.

Minor (N = 10): HL: 0.55-0.63 (0.59); HW: 0.51-0.57 (0.53); SL: 0.57-0.62 (0.59); EL: 0.1-0.13 (0.11); WL: 0.67-0.79 (0.74); PSL: 0.1-0.15 (0.11); MTL: 0.43-0.49 (0.46); PNW: 0.36-0.4 (0.38); PTW: 0.06-0.1 (0.08); PPW: 0.11-0.17 (0.08); CI: 87.2-93.8 (90.2); SI: 107.8-114.0 (111.4); PSLI: 16.2-23.5 (19.3); PPI: 52.1-61.8 (56.1); PNI: 68.8-71.8 (70.6); MTI: 83.0-93.3 (87.4). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct, weakly developed. Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Whole head foveolate, fading on frons and genae; thin, sparse, longitudinal to irregular rugae overlie foveolate sculpture. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines very short, triangular, apex acute. Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum and mesosoma smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle moderately short and thin; node low, triangular, and small; with few long, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Unicolourous, yellow to yellowish brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Madagascar. 1 major worker; Toamasina; Forêt Ambatovy, 14.3 km 57° Moramanga; -18.85083, 48.32; alt. 1075 m; 23 Mar 2004; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF10624, CASENT0050486. Paratypes. Madagascar. 2w., 2s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923172, CASENT0051295, CASENT0051296, CASENT0872186 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.