Pheidole scabrata

The species was collected at between 825–1220 m in elevation, in montane rainforest, rainforest, transitional humid forest, and tropical dry forest. Nests were located in rotten logs, and in rotten sticks on the ground (Salata & Fisher, 2020).

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - Major. Large species: HL: 2.44-2.72 (2.56), HW: 2.3-2.58 (2.43), WL: 1.69-1.85 (1.77); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.5-0.63 (0.55)); head in full-face view trapezoid, widened posteriorly; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; frons with rugoreticulation and additional longitudinal rugae on the whole surface, sculpture weakening posteriorly; first gastral tergite smooth to slightly shagreened; body brown to dark brown; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular and thick, with rounded apex, closely spaced; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, low, lobe-like, with wide base, smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth. Minor:. Large species: HL: 0.93-1.06 (0.99); HW: 0.9-1.06 (0.96), 1.41-1.65 (1.48); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.41-0.48 (0.43)); scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by one third of its length; head sculpture never rugoreticulate; mesosoma with dense rugoreticulation, sometimes dorsum with weaker sculpture, but never smooth.

This species is most similar to Pheidole maizina. Major workers. Pheidole scabrata can be distinguished from P. maizina by smooth and shiny genae or genae with fine sculpture; smooth area on katepisternum; tips of outer hypostomal teeth not directed outward, never densely shagreened surface of first gastral tergite, and brighter body colouration. Minor workers. Pheidole scabrata can be distinguished from P. maizina by weak head sculpture, and always smooth genae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  scabrata. Pheidole longispinosa r. scabrata Forel, 1895c: 249 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR.
 * Status as species: Salata & Fisher, 2020: 63.

Worker
Salata and Fisher (2020) - Major (N = 10): HL: 2.44-2.72 (2.56); HW: 2.3-2.58 (2.43); SL: 1.0-1.12 (1.06); EL: 0.23-0.3 (0.27); WL: 1.69-1.85 (1.77); PSL: 0.5-0.63 (0.55); MTL: 1.14-1.29 (1.22); PNW: 0.77-0.94 (0.88); PTW: 0.25-0.29 (0.27); PPW: 0.71-0.89 (0.8); CI: 93.1-96.5 (94.8); SI: 41.3-45.7 (43.5); PSLI: 19.2-24.9 (21.4); PPI: 31.0-38.3 (34.0); PNI: 33.5-38.4 (36.1); MTI: 48.2-52.5 (50.3). Head. In full-face view trapezoid, widened posteriorly. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately sparse, long erect setae. Antennal scrobes absent. Occipital lobes shiny and smooth or partially rugulose; genae smooth and shiny or with indistinct rugulae; centre of frons shiny, rugoreticulate, longitudinal rugae directed outward posteriorly; malar area rugoreticulate; lateral sides of head shiny, with sparse rugoreticulation; head sculpture weakens posteriorly. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, shallow and wide; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular and thick, with rounded apex, closely spaced; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, low, lobe-like, with wide base, smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, low, and evenly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny, with sparse to relatively dense rugoreticulation, mesosomal dorsum and propodeum with weaker sculpture, sometimes with smooth patches; katepisternum with smooth area. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Smooth to weakly shagreened; peduncle relatively long and thin; node triangular with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly depressed; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Smooth to weakly shagreened; in dorsal view sides with acute, and short to moderately short angular projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Gaster. First gastral tergite smooth to slightly shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown, sometimes malar area and lower part of frons with brighter colouration than the rest of body.

The following apply to all Pheidole majors of Madagascar, unless stated otherwise above. 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 present; promesonotum strongly convex, well above the level of propodeum; postpetiole short with slightly convex dorsum; ventral process absent.

Minor (N = 10): HL: 0.93-1.06 (0.99); HW: 0.9-1.06 (0.96); SL: 1.14-1.35 (1.23); EL: 0.17-0.19 (0.18); WL: 1.41-1.65 (1.48); PSL: 0.41-0.48 (0.43); MTL: 1.05-1.21 (1.12); PNW: 0.64-0.72 (0.67); PTW: 0.11-0.16 (0.13); PPW: 0.24-0.37 (0.3); CI: 95.4-100.5 (97.4); SI: 123.8-132.7 (127.5); PSLI: 41.1-45.6 (43.7); PPI: 41.8-51.3 (45.7); PNI: 67.6-73.2 (69.8); MTI: 111.8-119.5 (116.3). Head. Occipital margin convex; occipital carina narrow, weakly developed. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Sculpture variable, shiny, smooth to finely rugoreticulate on vertex, centre and posterior part of frons; genae smooth; lateral sides of head with few short, longitudinal rugulae, and sometimes finely shagreened; antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by one third of its length; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, and slightly convex; promesonotal groove absent or very indistinct; metanotal groove very indistinct; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex. Surface shiny, with dense rugoreticulation, sometimes dorsum with weaker sculpture, but never smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle long and thin; node triangular with rounded apex; with few long, erect setae. Postpetiole. Moderately short, low, and indistinctly convex; with few long, erect setae at the anterior edge. Petiole. With few long, erect setae. Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown.

The following apply to all Pheidole minors of Madagascar, unless stated otherwise above. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes absent; head in full-face view oval, posterior and anterior of eyes convex; antenna 12-segmented, with 3-seg¬mented club; humeral area not developed; clypeus smooth and shiny; its anterior margin regularly convex; promesonotum well above the level of propodeum; petiole smooth; petiole with node moderately low, triangular and small postpetiole smooth; gaster smooth and shiny.

Type Material

 * Lectotype (designated by Salata & Fisher, 2020): major worker (CASENT0101695): Madagascar, Est Imerina, coll. Sikora (MHNG) [examined].
 * Paralectotypes: 3 minor workers (1 pin, CASENT0101869) (MHNG) [examined], 1 major worker (CASENT0923189) (MHNG) [examined]: the same data as lectotype.