Pheidole haboka

The species was collected at 1550 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, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides relatively straight, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, moderately long, 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 longitudinal rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces, rugae more irregular on posterolateral parts; occipital lobes without smooth notches; area posterolateral from eyes with sculpture weakening posteriorly and smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner teeth, and approximately the same height; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma foveolate; promesonotum with additional thin, moderately sparse, transverse to irregular rugae; katepisternum with smooth notch; gaster smooth; body orange. Minor: Head smooth; lateral sides of frons with longitudinal, short, and thick rugae; vertex with very short, sparse, and transverse to arcing rugae; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum moderately low and short, arched; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines very small, triangular; mesosoma smooth; dorsal promesonotum with very sparse and irregular rugae; propodeum with sparse, irregular, and indistinct rugulae; body yellow.

Pheidole haboka, described from Fort d'Atsirakambiaty in Fianarantsoa, is most similar to Pheidole sparsa and Pheidole dasos, both known from the northern part of the island, and Pheidole hazo, recorded so far only from the vicinity of Andranoma in Antananarivo. Majors of P. haboka can be easily distinguished from all taxa mentioned above by area posterolateral from eyes with sculpture weakening posteriorly and smooth notches and very dense pilosity on gaster; minors can be separated based on body sculpture predominantly smooth and lacking foveolae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole haboka Salata & Fisher, 2020: 67, figs. 31A–F, 63M, 65M (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 8): HL: 0.94-1.13 (1.06); HW: 0.97-1.13 (1.06); SL: 0.66-0.72 (0.68); EL: 0.12-0.14 (0.13); WL: 1.05-1.13 (1.08); PSL: 0.15-0.19 (0.17); MTL: 0.65-0.7 (0.67); PNW: 0.52-0.58 (0.55); PTW: 0.14-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.29-0.34 (0.31); CI: 97.0-101.9 (99.6); SI: 59.5-69.1 (64.5); PSLI: 13.7-19.3 (16.0); PPI: 46.5-53.6 (50.1); PNI: 48.2-58.5 (52.2); MTI: 59.4-70.8 (63.7).

Head. In full-face view elongate, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides relatively straight. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, moderately long, 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 longitudinal rugae with sparsely rugulate interspaces, rugae more irregular on posterolateral parts. Occipital lobes with dense, irregular rugae and sparsely rugulate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with weaker and more irregular sculpture, sculpture weakening posteriorly and smooth on the posteriormost part. Gena with relatively sparse and thick 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 two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner teeth and approximately the same height; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short, with wide base and acute apex; humeral area weakly produced. Surface shiny and foveolate; promesonotum with additional thin, moderately sparse, transverse to irregular rugae; katepisternum with smooth notch. Pilosity dense, 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 smooth; 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 long, and erect. Colour. Orange with yellow legs.

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 = 3): HL: 0.61-0.64 (0.62); HW: 0.53-0.55 (0.54); SL: 0.59-0.63 (0.61); EL: 0.08-0.09 (0.09); WL: 0.78-0.81 (0.79); PSL: 0.08-0.1 (0.08); MTL: 0.52-0.56 (0.54); PNW: 0.37-0.39 (0.38); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.16-0.16 (0.16); CI: 113.3-117.9 (115.4); SI: 111.9-115.5 (113.1); PSLI: 12.2-15.4 (13.6); PPI: 56.1-61.0 (58.5); PNI: 70.1-70.7 (70.4); MTI: 98.5-101.4 (99.6).

Head. Cephalic margin slightly concave. 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 to arcing 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 short, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines very small, triangular. Sculpture shiny and smooth; dorsal promesonotum with very sparse and irregular rugae; propodeum with sparse, irregular, and indistinct rugulae. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Gaster. With moderately 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; Fort d'Atsirakambiaty, 7.6 km 285°WNW Itremo; -20.59333, 46.56333; alt. 1550 m; 22 Jan 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF07262; CASENT0491605, bottom specimen on the pin. Paratypes. 3w., 7s.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0491603, CASENT0491604, CASENT0872253, CASENT0491601 (CASC,, ).

Etymology
Malagasy for orange in reference to body colouration.