Pheidole curvistriata species group

Based on Salata & Fisher, 2020.

Species

 * Pheidole curvistriata
 * Pheidole makirovana
 * Pheidole mantadia
 * Pheidole moramanaensis

Species Identification
Minors in this species group are more distinctive than majors and so should be used for determinations using the following:

Key to Pheidole curvistriata species group

Group Diagnosis
Major workers Head in full face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, in lateral view sub-rectangular with ventral and dorsal faces finely convex, dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly; antennal scrobes shallowly impressed; occipital lobes with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth to finely rugulose; frons with thin to thick, sparse to dense, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulose; lateral sides of head with fine, irregular rugoreticulation or dense and thin longitudinal rugulae, interspaces finely foveolate; promesonotum short, angular, and relatively low; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, narrow, with base slightly wider than top; mesosoma finely rugoreticulate or foveolate, katepisternum and at least lower anepisternum smooth, lateral sides of propodeum with few thick, longitudinal rugae; first gastral tergite finely shagreened; body brown to dark brown.

Minor workers Head foveolate, with thick, sparse, and longitudinal rugae on frons and sparse, irregular to arcuate, thick rugae on vertex; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum low, short, flat, or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines short or moderately long, triangular; mesosoma foveolate or foveolate with additional thick and irregular rugae, sometimes anepisternum and katepisternum smooth; body yellow to brown.

Distribution
Madagascar. All members of this group are sympatric and, except P. mantadia known only from its type locality (Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Toamasina), are distributed across central highlands and evergreen forest.

Additional Resources

 * Pheidole
 * Madagascar