Pheidole sava

The species was collected at 1350 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and root mat.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - 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 with dense, short, suberect pilosity; anterior and medial parts of frons with moderately dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae sometimes interrupted in the posteromedial part, interspaces with sparse and distinct rugulae; posterolateral sides with longitudinal to irregular and thick rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces; area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately one-fifth of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderate, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; mesosoma with fine rugofoveolae, dorsal and lateral sides of pronotum with additional transverse and thin rugae and smooth notches; gaster smooth; body brownish orange. Minor: Head foveolate with additional indistinct longitudinal rugulae on medial frons, area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately high and long, arched; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines indistinct, triangular; mesosoma smooth and shiny, only promesonotal dorsum with arched rugae and indistinct foveolae, mesonotum and lateral sides of propodeum with indistinct and sparse foveolae; body yellowish brown.

Pheidole sava, known from Parc National de Marojejy in Antsiranana, is most similar to Pheidole itremo, known from Fort d'Atsirakambiaty in Fianarantsoa and Fort d Ambohitantely in Antananarivo. Major workers of P. sava can be separated based on brighter body colouration, presence of dense, short, suberect pilosity sides of the head, medial frons with sparse and distinctly rugulate interspaces, finely rugofoveolae mesosoma with dorsal and lateral sides of pronotum with additional transverse and thin rugae and smooth notches; minor workers can be separated based on foveolate head with additional indistinct longitudinal rugulae on medial frons, smooth area posterolateral from eyes, predominantly smooth mesosoma with promesonotal dorsum with arched rugae and indistinct foveolae, and indistinct and sparse foveolae on mesonotum and lateral sides of propodeum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole sava Salata & Fisher, 2020: 136, figs. 52A–F, 64J, 67B (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 3): HL: 1.14-1.24 (1.2); HW: 1.16-1.23 (1.2); SL: 0.66-0.69 (0.68); EL: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); WL: 1.07-1.1 (1.09); PSL: 0.19-0.21 (0.2); MTL: 0.68-0.73 (0.7); PNW: 0.52-0.53 (0.52); PTW: 0.14-0.17 (0.16); PPW: 0.28-0.34 (0.31); CI: 98.2-101.0 (99.7); SI: 55.5-57.1 (56.4); PSLI: 16.2-16.7 (16.5); PPI: 44.8-61.3 (51.3); PNI: 42.7-45.3 (43.7); MTI: 57.5-59.1 (58.4).

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 invisible. Sides of the head with dense, short, suberect pilosity; whole head with relatively dense, short, decumbent to erect pilosity. Anterior and medial parts of frons with moderately dense and thick, longitudinal, and sometimes interrupted rugae in posteromedial part, interspaces with sparse and distinct rugulae; posterolateral sides with longitudinal to irregular and thick rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth or with fine, indistinct rugulae. Gena with sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with dense longitudinal to irregular rugofoveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately one-fifth of its length; pilosity decumbent to suberect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderate, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderate, thin, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny with fine rugofoveolae, dorsal and lateral sides of pronotum with additional transverse and thin rugae and smooth notches. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse rugofoveolae; peduncle; node smooth to indistinctly rugulose, low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse rugulae; in dorsal view postpetiole oval, lateral margins medially with two indistinct dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Brownish orange; legs dark yellow, gaster bright brown.

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: 0.58-0.61 (0.59); HW: 0.48-0.49 (0.49); SL: 0.6-0.63 (0.61); EL: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); WL: 0.73-0.74 (0.73); PSL: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.5-0.52 (0.51); PNW: 0.3-0.34 (0.32); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.13-0.16 (0.15); CI: 117.1-127.1 (121.6); SI: 122.0-129.4 (126.2); PSLI: 11.3-14.2 (12.8); PPI: 60.4-65.7 (63.0); PNI: 62.7-70.4 (66.4); MTI: 103.3-106.8 (104.7).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly convex. Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to subdecumbent. Head foveolate with additional indistinct longitudinal rugulae on medial frons, area posterolateral from eyes smooth; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and foveolae interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately high and long, arched; promesonotal groove present but indistinct; metanotal groove present and distinct; propodeal spines indistinct, lobe-like. Sculpture smooth and shiny, only promesonotal dorsum with arched rugae and indistinct foveolae, mesonotum and lateral sides of propodeum with indistinct and sparse foveolae. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face relatively straight. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Brown; legs and lateral sides of pronotum yellowish brown.

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; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 21.3 km 27.0°NE Andapa; -14.43686, 49.74291; alt. 1350 m; 12 Feb 2018; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF41084; CASENT0808425. Paratype. 1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923296 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.