Pheidole joffreville

The species was collected at 925 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nest was located in rotten log.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole sikorae species group. Moderately large species. Major: Head in full-face view sub-oval and widening slightly posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with sparse, moderately long, suberect pilosity; anteromedial part of frons with thick, longitudinal, interrupted, and sparse rugae, posteromedial frons with rugae longitudinally irregular, interspaces distinctly rugofoveolate, rugae on posteromedial part directed outward; lateral sides with thick, sparse, and irregular rugae with distinctly rugofoveolate interspaces; occipital lobes, and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by one-fifth of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, narrower, and approximately as high as inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma foveolate; promesonotum with additional sparse, thick, and transverse rugulae on dorsum; gaster smooth; body brown. Minor: Head foveolate; vertex with a few arcing, sparse, and moderately thick rugae; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines moderate, triangular; mesosoma foveolate; katepisternum with big smooth notch; body brown.

Pheidole joffreville, described from Parc National Montagne d'Ambre in Antsiranana, has major workers with dense and thick rugae, anteromedially longitudinal and posteromedially irregular, with distinctly rugofoveolate interspaces, and brown body colouration. Morphologically is most similar to allopatric Pheidole mivory, known from Parc National de Marojejy in Antsiranana. Majors of both taxa are extremely similar and species separation should be supported or based exclusively on minors. Majors of P. joffreville differ from P. mivory in distinctly rugofoveolate interspaces on frons and lack of longitudinal rugae on lateral sides of frons and lack of shagreened sculpture on first gastral tergite; minor workers differ in distinctly foveolate mesosoma with only katepisternum with smooth notch.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole joffreville Salata & Fisher, 2020: 81, figs. 35A–F, 63Q, 65Q (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 3): HL: 1.04-1.1 (1.06); HW: 1.03-1.16 (1.06); SL: 0.73-0.75 (0.74); EL: 0.14-0.15 (0.14); WL: 0.9-0.93 (0.92); PSL: 0.17-0.19 (0.17); MTL: 0.62-0.67 (0.64); PNW: 0.44-0.47 (0.45); PTW: 0.15-0.15 (0.15); PPW: 0.31-0.34 (0.32); CI: 98.6-101.0 (100.1); SI: 67.3-70.9 (69.3); PSLI: 15.4-17.9 (16.3); PPI: 44.4-47.3 (46.3); PNI: 42.2-43.0 (42.5); MTI: 59.7-60.1 (59.9).

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; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, moderately long, suberect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Anteromedial part of frons with thick, longitudinal, interrupted and sparse rugae, posteromedial frons with rugae longitudinally irregular, interspaces distinctly rugofoveolate, rugae on posteromedial part directed outward; lateral sides with thick, sparse, and irregular rugae with distinctly rugofoveolate interspaces. Occipital lobes with thinner and denser irregular rugae and rugofoveolate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with dense rugofoveolae and additional sparse rugae. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, longitudinal rugae and distinctly rugofoveolate 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 one-fifth 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, narrower, 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 foveolate; promesonotum with additional sparse, thick, and transverse rugulae 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; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Colour. Brown 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: 0.6-0.63 (0.62); HW: 0.52-0.54 (0.53); SL: 0.7-0.74 (0.72); EL: 0.13-0.13 (0.13); WL: 0.74-0.8 (0.76); PSL: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); MTL: 0.53-0.55 (0.54); PNW: 0.35-0.37 (0.36); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.14-0.15 (0.15); CI: 116.0-120.5 (117.6); SI: 133.0-138.5 (136.2); PSLI: 17.6-18.9 (18.3); PPI: 58.6-67.8 (63.7); PNI: 66.9-70.2 (68.3); MTI: 99.3-105.6 (102.4).

Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex. Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and foveolate; vertex with a few arcing, sparse, and moderately thick rugae; 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, subdecumbent to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines moderate, triangular. Sculpture shiny and foveolate; katepisternum with big smooth notch. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect. Gaster. With sparse, eret pilosity. Colour. Brown, legs, antenna and gaster yellowish.

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; Antsiranana; Parc National Montagne d'Ambre, 3.6 km 235°SW Joffreville; -12.53444, 49.1795; alt. 925 m; 20 Jan 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF02568; CASENT0406355. Paratypes. 4w., 2s.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0406358, CASENT0406356, CASENT0406352, CASENT0406354, CASENT0406350 (CASC, ).

Etymology
From the type locality.