Pheidole mavohavoana

The species was collected between 900-1075 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and under stones.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole sikorae species group. Moderately large species. Major: Head in full-face view sub-oval, widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head very dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, longitudinal, and dense rugae, interspaces predominantly smooth to indistinctly rugulate, rugae more irregular and directed slightly outward on posteromedial part; lateral sides with thick, dense, and irregular rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces; area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by three-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, distinctly lower and narrower than inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma rugofoveolate; dorsal promesonotum and katepisternum with sparser rugofoveolae; gaster smooth with very dense pilosity; body orange. Minor: Head smooth; lateral sides of frons with longitudinal, short, and thick rugae; vertex with very short, sparse, and transverse rugae; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum moderately low and moderately long; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines very small and triangular; mesosoma smooth; dorsal promesonotum with very sparse and transverse rugae; propodeum with sparse, irregular, and indistinct rugulae; body yellow.

Pheidole mavohavoana has very distinct major and minor workers. Morphologically P. mavohavoana is most similar to Pheidole antranohofa, a species known from a remote locality in Antsiranana. Major workers of P. mavohavoana differ from those of P. antranohofa in very dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity on sides of the head with, thick, dense, and irregular rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces on lateral sides of frons, very dense pilosity on gaster, and reduced outer hypostomal teeth; minor workers can be separated based on predominantly smooth head lacking foveolae, moderately low and moderately long promesonotum, and dense pilosity on gaster.

Distribution
The species is known from two localities: Andrambovato in Fianarantsoa and Parc National d'Andohahela in Toliara.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole mavohavoana Salata & Fisher, 2020: 110, figs. 44A–F, 64B, 66F (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 1): HL: 1.3; HW: 1.28; SL: 0.83; EL: 0.13; WL: 1.12; PSL: 0.2; MTL: 0.79; PNW: 0.55; PTW: 0.15; PPW: 0.34; CI: 101.5; SI: 64.9; PSLI: 15.6; PPI: 43.9; PNI: 43.1; MTI: 62.1.

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, distinctly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with very dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, longitudinal and dense rugae, interspaces predominantly smooth to indistinctly rugulate, rugae more irregular and directed slightly outward on posteromedial part; lateral sides with thick, dense, and irregular rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with dense, irregular rugae and sparsely rugulate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with weaker sculpture. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and distinctly rugulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by three-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, distinctly lower and narrower than inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, with moderately wide base and acute apex; humeral area poorly produced. Surface shiny and rugofoveolate; dorsal promesonotum and katepisternum with sparser rugofoveolae. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with sparse foveolae; node finely foveolate, triangular, with rounded and thick apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and foveolate; dorsum with reduced sculpture and smooth notch; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity very dense, moderately short, and erect. Colour. Yellowish orange with yellow legs and gaster.

The following characters are found in most Pheidole sikorae species-group majors in Madagascar (Salata and Fisher 2020b). These characters also occur in , except for any differences noted in the paragraph above. Dorsal face of head in lateral view not depressed posteriorly; 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 absent; promesonotum strongly convex, well above the level of propodeum; petiolar peduncle with small horizontal lobes on its basal part; postpetiole short with slightly convex dorsum; petiolar peduncle without horizontal lobes on its basal part; body unicolourous.

Minor (N = 4): HL: 0.64-0.66 (0.65); HW: 0.53-0.56 (0.55); SL: 0.68-0.75 (0.7); EL: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); WL: 0.81-0.84 (0.83); PSL: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); MTL: 0.57-0.61 (0.58); PNW: 0.37-0.38 (0.37); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); CI: 116.8-121.8 (118.5); SI: 124.1-140.8 (128.5); PSLI: 12.3-14.9 (14.0); PPI: 58.8-64.4 (62.7); PNI: 66.5-69.0 (68.1); MTI: 103.8-113.9 (106.7).

Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex. Pilosity relatively dense, moderately long, decumbent to subdecumbent. Sculpture shiny and smooth; lateral sides of frons with longitudinal, short, and thick rugae; vertex with very short, sparse, and transverse rugae; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and smooth interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines very small and triangular. Sculpture shiny and smooth; dorsal promesonotum with very sparse and transverse rugae; propodeum with sparse, irregular, and indistinct rugulae. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Gaster. With dense, erect pilosity. Colour. Yellow.

The following characters are found in most Pheidole sikorae species-group minors in Madagascar (Salata and Fisher 2020b). These characters also occur in , except for any differences noted in the paragraph above. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes absent; occipital carina 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, with node moderately low, triangular, and small, with few short, erect setae; petiolar peduncle with ventral face slightly convex; postpetiole smooth, short, low, and slightly convex, with few short, erect setae; gaster smooth and shiny; body unicolourous.

Type material
Holotype. Madagascar. 1 major worker; Fianarantsoa; 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly; -21.51167, 47.41; alt. 1075 m; 3 Jun 2005; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF12291; CASENT0923298. Paratype. 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0059948 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for yellow and hill in reference to body colouration and a habitat occupied by the species.