Pheidole renirano

The species was collected between 125-725 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and sticks on the ground.

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 slightly convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with moderately dense, moderately long, suberect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, longitudinal, interrupted and dense rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulate; lateral sides with thicker, dense and longitudinal to posteriorly slightly irregular rugae with predominantly smooth but sometimes indistinctly rugulate interspaces; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than and approximately as high as inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma with sparse foveolae; promesonotum with additional sparse, thin, and transverse rugulae and smooth to indistinctly foveolate interspaces on dorsum; gaster smooth with base indistinctly shagreened; body yellow. Minor: Head foveolate, foveolae sparse; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; promesonotum low and moderately long; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines minute, triangular; mesosoma foveolate; katepisternum with large, smooth notch; dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum with reduced sculpture and smooth notches on medial parts; body yellowish brown.

Pheidole renirano is known from several localities in the Toamasina prefecture. Its range covers the area from Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky north to Antanambe. Morphologically it is most similar to parapatric Pheidole tsaravoniana, known from the vicinity of Tsaravoniana in Toamasina. Major workers of P. renirano can be distinguished from majors of P. tsaravoniana based on bright yellow body colouration and promesonotal dorsum with short, transverse rugae with smooth to indistinctly foveolae interspaces; minors can be separated based on yellowish brown body, and reduced sculpture and smooth notches on medial parts of dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole renirano Salata & Fisher, 2020: 132, figs. 51A–F, 64I, 67A (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 4): HL: 1.05-1.21 (1.16); HW: 1.03-1.16 (1.12); SL: 0.76-0.88 (0.84); EL: 0.12-0.17 (0.15); WL: 1.03-1.14 (1.1); PSL: 0.14-0.18 (0.16); MTL: 0.69-0.82 (0.77); PNW: 0.45-0.54 (0.5); PTW: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); PPW: 0.26-0.31 (0.29); CI: 101.5-105.3 (103.6); SI: 73.2-76.3 (75.1); PSLI: 11.9-15.0 (13.4); PPI: 46.2-49.6 (47.8); PNI: 39.5-51.8 (44.4); MTI: 66.5-70.5 (68.8).

Head. In full-face sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, moderately long, suberect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, longitudinal, interrupted and dense rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulate; lateral sides with thicker, dense, and longitudinal to posteriorly slightly irregular rugae with predominantly smooth but sometimes indistinctly rugulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with thick and dense irregular rugae and predominantly smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with longitudinal, moderately thick, very dense rugae with smooth to rugulate interspaces. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and smooth to indistinctly rugulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; 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, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than and approximately as high as inner teeth; 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 absent; propodeal spines moderate, with wide base and acute apex; humeral area produced. Surface shiny and sparse foveolae; promesonotum with additional sparse, thin, and transverse rugulae and smooth to indistinctly foveolate interspaces on dorsum. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with dense foveolae; node finely foveolate, triangular, with rounded and thick apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly 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 with base indistinctly shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Colour. Yellow with yellowish 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 = 4): HL: 0.53-0.59 (0.55); HW: 0.42-0.46 (0.44); SL: 0.66-0.74 (0.72); EL: 0.11-0.11 (0.11); WL: 0.69-0.78 (0.74); PSL: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); MTL: 0.51-0.58 (0.55); PNW: 0.3-0.33 (0.31); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.11-0.14 (0.12); CI: 119.8-130.5 (126.5); SI: 157.8-170.9 (163.5); PSLI: 11.4-15.6 (13.3); PPI: 55.1-63.9 (59.3); PNI: 68.5-73.9 (70.8); MTI: 121.1-134.2 (126.2).

Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex. Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and foveolate, foveolae sparse; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and foveolate interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; pilosity dense, suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines minute, triangular. Sculpture shiny and foveolate; katepisternum with big smooth notch; dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum with reduced sculpture and smooth notches on medial parts. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Yellowish brown, vertex and gaster darker.

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; Toamasina; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river; -16.7674, 49.26813; alt. 500 m; 23 Feb 2010; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF24675; CASENT0161924. Paratype. 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0923324 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for river in reference to the Sandrangato River located in the type locality.