Pheidole manukana

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Eguchi (2001) - This species is distinguished from other Indo-Malayan congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: hypostoma of the major without median process; dorsum of occipital lobe of the major almost smooth and shining; head of the minor subrectangular with a weak but complete occipital carina; prominence on the posterior declivity of promesonotum inconspicuous or absent in the minor; petiole almost as long as postpetiole in both the subcastes; postpetiole wide, 2.4-2.6 times as broad as petiolar node in the major and ca. 2.2 times in the minor.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  manukana. Pheidole manukana Eguchi, 2001b: 75, fig. 27 (s.w.) BORNEO.

Worker
Major (n=4): TL 2.6-3.0 mm, HL 1.18-1.23 mm, HW 1.17-1.23 mm, SL 0.67-0.70 mm, FL 0.83-0.87 mm, CI 98-101, SI 55-58, FI 71-73. Head broadest at about 2/3 distance of head (as measured from the mid-point of a transverse line spanning the anteriormost and posteriormost projecting points, respectively) (Fig. 27A), in profile not impressed on vertex (Fig. 27B). Hypostoma without median processes. Clypeus with a weak median longitudinal carina, with anterior margin emarginate medially. Eye situated at or just behind 1/3 distance of head; distance between mandibular insertion and anterior margin of eye 1.5-1.6 times as long as maximal diameter of eye. Frontal carina conspicuous, extending backward to 2/3-3/4 distance of head. Antennal scrobe present only around antennal insertion. Antenna with 3-segmented club; scape extending backward to about 2/3 distance of head; terminal segment almost as long as preceding two segments together. Masticatory margin of mandible with apical and preapical teeth, and a denticle in front of basal angle. Promesonotal dome with a low prominence on its posterior declivity (Fig. 27C); the prominence in anterior view not or very weakly concave medially. Mesopleuron without a distinct transverse impression. Propodeal spine 2.5-3 times as long as diameter of propodeal spiracle. Petiole cuneiform, almost as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium) (Fig. 27E); petiolar node low, in profile acute and in posterior view weakly and broadly emarginate at apex. Postpetiole in dorsal view subpentagonal, 2.4-2.6 times as broad as petiolar node.

Frons and anterior 2/3 of lateral face of head sparsely longitudinally rugose; dorsum of occipital lobe smooth and shining, or weakly rugoso-reticulate, and lateral face of the lobe smooth and shining; promesonotal dome smooth and shining with several transverse rugulae dorsally; remainder of alitrunk, and petiole and postpetiole largely smooth and shining; gaster smooth and shining. Outer face of mandible covered with decumbent hairs, which are 0.05-0.09 mm in length and longer than distance between piligerous punctures. Body reddish-brown with a little darker gaster.

Minor (n=5): TL 1.8 mm, HL 0.59-0.65 mm, HW 0.54-0.62 mm, SL 0.67-0.71 mm, AL 0.79-0.86 mm, FL 0.70-0.76 mm, Cl 92-95, SI 115-124, Fl 120-130. Head in full-face view subrectangular (Fig. 27D); occipital carina weak but complete. Clypeus without a median longitudinal carina, with anterior margin in full-face view weakly concave medially. Eyes situated at about midlength of head; distance between mandibular insertion and anterior margin of eye ca. 0.9 times as long as maximal diameter of eye. Frontal carina and antennal scrobe present only around antennal insertion. Antenna with 3-segmented club; in full-face view scape extending beyond posterior margin of head by 1/4 length of scape; terminal segment 0.9-1.0 times as long as preceding two segments together. Promesonotum forming a low dome with a pair of inconspicuous tubercles dorsolaterally, with an inconspicuous prominence or without any prominence on its posterior declivity toward inconspicuous metanotal groove (Fig. 27E). Mesopleuron without a distinct transverse impression. Propodeal spine elongate-triangular, almost twice as long as diameter of propodeal spiracle. Petiole cuneiform, almost as long as postpetiole (excluding helcium) (Fig. 27E); petiolar node low, in profile acute and in posterior view not emarginate at apex. Postpetiole in dorsal view subpentagonal, ca. 2.2 times as broad as petiolar node.

Head including clypeus and promesonotum smooth and shining; remainder of alitrunk, and petiole and postpetiole largely smooth and shining; gaster smooth and shining. Body brown.

Type Material
Holotype Major, Pulau Manukan (Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, off the coast of Kota Kinabalu), Sabah, E. Malaysia (Borneo), Sk. Yamane leg., 1995, deposited in. Paratypes 3 majors and 5 minors, the same data as the holotype, deposited in and UMS.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Eguchi K. 2001. A revision of the Bornean species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Tropics Monograph Series 2: 1-154.
 * Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58