Pheidole ocypodea

The species was collected between 400–980 m in elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nests were located in in rotten logs and rotten sticks on ground.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole ensifera species group. Major. Body size moderate: HL: 1.82-2.01 (1.95); HW: 1.52-1.66 (1.6), WL: 1.16-1.31 (1.26); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.38-0.45 (0.41)); head in full-face view rectangular, with lateral sides relatively straight, only their posteriormost part slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes shiny, with sparse and thick rugoreticulation; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, low, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed outward; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, low, lobe-like, with base wide and tops directed inward; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by concavity. Minor:. Body size moderate: HL: 0.63-0.72 (0.66); HW: 0.6-0.7 (0.64), WL: 0.8-0.93 (0.85); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.26-0.32 (0.28)); scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; lateral sides of head and malar area smooth and shiny or with indistinct, sparse rugulae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; vertex, genae, and frons smooth; pronotum, dorsal surface of mesonotum, and dorsal and posterior surface of propodeum smooth; katepisternum, anepisternum, and lateral sides of propodeum with thick and sparse rugae.

This species is most similar to Pheidole aelloea and Pheidole podargea. Major workers. Pheidole ocypodea can be distinguished from P. aelloea by steep to relatively steep posterior declivity of promesonotum, inner hypostomal teeth pointed outward and outer hypostomal teeth pointed inward; from P.  podargea it differs in longer and sparser pilosity on sides of head, reduced to absent sculpture on genae and propodeum, and inner hypostomal teeth pointed outward. Minor workers. Pheidole ocypodea can be distinguished from P. aelloea by smooth lateral sides of head and malar area, presence of metanotal groove, short petiolar peduncle, and long postpetiole which is approximately 1.5 times longer than high; from P.  podargea it differs in smooth sculpture of vertex, genae, and area between frontal carinae, absence of promesonotal groove and at least partially smooth surface of pronotum, dorsal surface of mesonotum, and dorsal and posterior surface of propodeum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  ocypodea. Pheidole ocypodea Salata & Fisher, 2020: 82, figs. 32A–F, 85O, 87T (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 1.82-2.01 (1.95); HW: 1.52-1.66 (1.6); SL: 0.71-0.8 (0.75); EL: 0.15-0.19 (0.17); WL: 1.16-1.31 (1.26); PSL: 0.38-0.45 (0.41); MTL: 0.69-0.79 (0.75); PNW: 0.68-0.78 (0.75); PTW: 0.18-0.25 (0.21); PPW: 0.62-0.73 (0.65); CI: 79.8-84.5 (82.3); SI: 44.5-50.1 (46.8); PSLI: 20.3-22.7 (21.3); PPI: 28.0-37.7 (32.4); PNI: 44.7-48.9 (46.6); MTI: 44.5-48.3 (46.5). Head. In full-face view rectangular, with lateral sides relatively straight, only their posteriormost part slightly convex. In lateral view oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, relatively long, erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with sparse and thick rugoreticulation; genae smooth and shiny, only anterior part sometimes with sparse and fine rugulae; frons with longitudinal and sparse rugae, on posterior part of frons rugae directed outward and more irregular, interspaces with sparse to moderately sparse rugose foveolae; malar area and lateral sides of head shiny, with longitudinal rugae, surface between rugae with dense rugose foveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and narrow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, low, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed outward; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, low, lobe-like, with base wide and tops directed inward; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and high, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines very long, narrow, with acute apex; humeral area laterally absent to weakly produced. Surface shiny, pronotum and dorsal surface of mesonotum smooth or sometimes with indistinct, sparse rugulae; propodeum, katepisternum, and anepisternum with thick and dense rugoreticulation. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shagreened; peduncle relatively long, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node triangular and thin, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly depressed; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shagreened; in dorsal view sides with acute, horn-like, moderately long projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Petiole. First gastral tergite shagreened, at least on its basal part; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, ocherous to reddish-brown.

Unless otherwise noted above, the following characters occur in this species, and the majority of Pheidole majors of Madagascar described by Salata and Fisher 2020a. 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: 0.63-0.72 (0.66); HW: 0.6-0.7 (0.64); SL: 0.63-0.69 (0.66); EL: 0.09-0.13 (0.11); WL: 0.8-0.93 (0.85); PSL: 0.26-0.32 (0.28); MTL: 0.49-0.57 (0.53); PNW: 0.38-0.45 (0.42); PTW: 0.09-0.12 (0.1); PPW: 0.18-0.24 (0.19); CI: 93.6-98.2 (96.3); SI: 98.3-106.9 (102.9); PSLI: 40.4-45.5 (42.6); PPI: 45.1-57.6 (52.4); PNI: 62.5-68.1 (65.2); MTI: 78.9-86.9 (83.3). Head. In full-face view square, posterior of eyes slightly convex, anterior of eyes relatively straight, occipital margin straight or indistinctly convex; occipital carina indistinct, weakly developed. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Lateral sides of head and malar area smooth and shiny or with indistinct, sparse rugulae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; vertex, genae, and frons smooth; antennal sockets with sparse, interrupted carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum high, short, and convex; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove shallow and indistinct; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex. Surface shiny, pronotum, dorsal surface of mesonotum, and dorsal and posterior surface of propodeum smooth; katepisternum, anepisternum, and lateral sides of propodeum with thick and sparse rugae. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle moderately long and thin; node low, bulge-like; with few long, erect setae. Postpetiole. Long, low, and slightly convex; with few long, erect setae at the anterior edge. Petiole. Pilosity sparse and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, bright brown to brown. Unless otherwise noted above, the following characters occur in this species, and the majority of Pheidole minors of Madagascar described by Salata and Fisher 2020a. 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.

Unless otherwise noted above, the following characters occur in this species, and the majority of Pheidole minors of Madagascar described by Salata and Fisher 2020a. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes 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; petiole with node moderately low, triangular and small postpetiole smooth; gaster smooth and shiny.

Type Material
Holotype. Madagascar. 1 major worker; Antsiranana; Galoko chain, Mont Galoko; -13.5888, 48.72864; alt. 980 m; 20 Feb 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF30960, CASENT0304390. Paratype. Madagascar. 1 minor worker; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923220 (CASC).

Etymology
Named after Ocypode, a harpy from Greek mythology, in reference to the long and sharp propodeal spines of minor workers reminiscent of claws.