Pheidole hazo

The species was collected at 1300 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nest was located in dead branch above 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 relatively straight, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae, rugae in posteromedial portion directed slightly outward, interspaces shiny with sparse and distinct rugofoveolae; lateral sides with longitudinal, thicker, and relatively sparser rugae; interspaces shiny with relatively dense and distinct rugofoveolae; 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 slightly outward; 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 concavity; mesosoma with thick and sparse foveolae; pronotum with additional transverse to irregular, thin rugae; katepisternum with smooth notch; gaster smooth; body orange. Minor: Head foveolate with additional longitudinal to irregular, interrupted, and moderately thick rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with weaker foveolae and smooth notches; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines minute and triangular; mesosoma with thick foveolae; lateral sides of propodeum, katepisternum, and anepisternum with smooth notches; body yellow.

Pheidole hazo, described from the vicinity of Andranoma in Antananarivo, is most similar to Pheidole dasos, known from Makirovana forest in Antsiranana, and Pheidole sparsa, recorded so far only from Bemanevika in Mahajanga. Majors of P. hazo can be distinguished from both taxa by medial part of frons with moderately dense rugae with interspaces with distinct rugofoveolae, and pronotum lacking smooth notches; minors of P. hazo can be distinguished from P. sparsa by yellow body colouration, and mesosoma predominantly with dense foveolae, and from P. dasos by yellow body colouration, shorter scape surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length, and pronotum with distinct and dense foveolae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole hazo Salata & Fisher, 2020: 74, figs. 33A–F, 63O, 65O (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 9): HL: 1.06-1.14 (1.09); HW: 1.02-1.13 (1.08); SL: 0.63-0.66 (0.64); EL: 0.14-0.17 (0.15); WL: 0.98-1.08 (1.03); PSL: 0.16-0.18 (0.17); MTL: 0.63-0.65 (0.64); PNW: 0.41-0.52 (0.47); PTW: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); PPW: 0.25-0.3 (0.27); CI: 97.6-104.3 (101.0); SI: 56.4-63.3 (59.7); PSLI: 15.1-17.1 (16.0); PPI: 47.3-55.8 (51.5); PNI: 39.2-47.0 (43.3); MTI: 57.1-63.9 (59.9).

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; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae, rugae in posteromedial directed slightly outward, interspaces shiny with sparse and distinct rugofoveolae; lateral sides with longitudinal, thicker, and relatively sparser rugae; interspaces shiny with relatively dense and distinct rugofoveolae. Occipital lobes with sparse, thick, and longitudinal to irregular rugae; interspaces rugofoveolate. Gena with relatively dense and thick, longitudinal rugae and rugofoveolate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes shiny, with dense, longitudinal rugofoveolae. 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, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed slightly outward; 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 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 moderately long, moderately narrow, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny with thick and sparse foveolae; pronotum with additional transverse to irregular, thin rugae; katepisternum with smooth notch. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse foveolae; node smooth to finely foveolate, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally straight to slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and smooth; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Dark orange; mandibles slightly darker; legs yellow.

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 = 5): HL: 0.6-0.63 (0.61); HW: 0.5-0.53 (0.52); SL: 0.61-0.64 (0.62); EL: 0.11-0.12 (0.12); WL: 0.76-0.82 (0.79); PSL: 0.08-0.09 (0.09); MTL: 0.52-0.55 (0.54); PNW: 0.33-0.35 (0.34); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.14-0.15 (0.15); CI: 114.8-121.9 (118.8); SI: 115.4-123.9 (120.9); PSLI: 12.9-14.6 (13.9); PPI: 57.3-70.4 (62.7); PNI: 63.4-67.4 (66.0); MTI: 101.5-106.2 (103.8).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly convex or straight. Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture foveolate with additional longitudinal to irregular, interrupted, and moderately thick rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with weaker foveolae and smooth notches. 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 low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines minute and triangular. Sculpture shiny and with thick foveolae; lateral sides of propodeum, katepisternum, and anepisternum with smooth notches. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect. Postpetiole. Short, low, and relatively flat; with few short, erect setae. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Yellow, vertex slightly 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; Antananarivo; 3 km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe; -18.47333, 47.96; alt. 1300 m; 5 Dec 2000; Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex dead branch above ground; BLF02441; CASENT0427790, bottom specimen on the pin. Paratypes. 5w., 8s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0427762, CASENT00872251, CASENT0413711, CASENT0413712, CASENT0427765 (CASC,, ).

Etymology
Malagasy for tree in reference to arboreal nesting preferences of the species.