Pheidole parviocula

The species was collected at elevation between 1002–1987 m, in savannah grassland, in Uapaca woodland, in savannah woodland, and in grassland. Nests were located in soil, under stones, and in dead tree stumps.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole navoatrensis complex in the Pheidole lutea species group. Major. Eyes small and reduced; body yellow; head rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex; sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes and genae shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct, very sparse, longitudinal rugulae; frons and malar area shiny, with thick, sparse, short, and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth; propodeal spines absent or weakly developed, lobe-like; mesosoma shiny, with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation, sculpture on dorsum weaker or with smooth patches; inner hypostomal teeth indistinct, very low, lobe-like, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, dentate, and with rounded tops directed outward. Minor:. Eyes small and reduced; body yellow; head and mesosoma shiny and smooth; propodeal spines indistinct, triangular.

This species is most similar to Pheidole typhlos. Major workers. Pheidole parviocula can be distinguished from P. typhlos by dense, relatively long pilosity on sides of the head, small, lobe-like inner hypostomal teeth and weakly developed or absent propodeal spines. Minor workers. Pheidole parviocula can be distinguished from P. typhlos by convex shape of promesonotum convex, presence of promesonotal groove and weakly developed, small, triangular, apex acute.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  parviocula. Pheidole parviocula Salata & Fisher, 2020: 38, figs. 19A–F, 85P, 87U (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 0.72-1.07 (0.93); HW: 0.6-0.83 (0.74); SL: 0.36-0.48 (0.43); EL: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); WL: 0.7-0.88 (0.8); PSL: 0.08-0.12 (0.1); MTL: 0.37-0.46 (0.43); PNW: 0.38-0.53 (0.47); PTW: 0.11-0.16 (0.14); PPW: 0.23-0.32 (0.28); CI: 76.1-82.9 (80.1); SI: 55.8-61.4 (58.4); PSLI: 9.7-12.2 (11.0); PPI: 45.2-54.6 (49.1); PNI: 60.0-65.5 (63.2); MTI: 54.7-62.9 (58.0). Head. In full-face view elongate, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces moderately convex; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with dense, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes absent. Occipital lobes and genae shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct, very sparse, longitudinal rugulae; frons and malar area shiny, with thick, sparse, short and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with a few longitudinal rugae on the lateral sides; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching slightly over the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth indistinct, very low, lobe-like, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, dentate, and with rounded tops directed outward. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and low, posterior mesonotum convex, with low tubercle-like projection; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines absent or weakly developed, lobe-like; humeral area with short triangular tubercles. Surface shiny, with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation, sculpture on dorsum weaker or with smooth patches. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle relatively long, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and globular, with convex apex, in rear view node concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect. Postpetiole. Smooth and shiny; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and tubercle-like projections; pilosity long, moderately dense and erect. Gaster. Smooth and shiny; pilosity dense, short and erect. Colour. Yellow, malar area and lower part of frons dark yellow to bright 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: 0.45-0.51 (0.49); HW: 0.4-0.45 (0.44); SL: 0.34-0.37 (0.35); EL: 0.04-0.06 (0.05); WL: 0.5-0.58 (0.55); PSL: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); MTL: 0.25-0.31 (0.29); PNW: 0.26-0.3 (0.29); PTW: 0.07-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); CI: 86.4-92.8 (89.6); SI: 76.9-85.4 (81.1); PSLI: 9.3-13.5 (11.8); PPI: 60.2-72.4 (65.1); PNI: 59.1-70.1 (65.9); MTI: 62.4-71.5 (66.9). Head. In full-face view rectangular, posterior and anterior of eyes slightly convex, occipital margin straight or indistinctly convex; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately dense, short, subdecumbent to suberect. Whole head shiny and smooth, only antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching posterior head margin; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum convex; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines indistinct, triangular, apex acute. Sculpture smooth and shiny. Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long and erect. Petiole. Peduncle moderately short and thin; node globular and moderately high; with few long, erect setae. Postpetiole. Moderately short, low, and slightly convex; with few long, erect setae at the anterior edge. Gaster. Pilosity moderately dense, erect, and moderately long. Colour. Unicolourous, yellow.

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; Antananarivo; Ankalalahana; -19.00716, 47.1124; alt. 1370 m; 3 Jan 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF31313, CASENT0303345. Paratype. Madagascar. 1 w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923187.

Etymology
Latin for small eyes.