Pheidole goavana

The species was collected between 60–1135 m in elevation, in rainforest, and in montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole mavesatra complex in the Pheidole petax species group. Major: Head in full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, suberect pilosity; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, moderately high, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and approximately as high as outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base; gaster finely shagreened; body brownish black. Minor:. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture; promesonotum low, slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate; lower half of katepisternum smooth; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow; body yellow.

Pheidole goavana is most similar to Pheidole mavesatra. Major workers. Pheidole mavesatra differs from P. goavana in brownish black body colouration, katepisternum never smooth, and promesonotum and lateral surfaces of propodeum with additional thin, moderately dense to dense rugoreticulation. Minor workers. Pheidole mavesatra differs from P. goavana in promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, and triangular propodeal spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  goavana. Pheidole goavana Salata & Fisher, 2020: 189, figs. 70A–F, 84U, 86U (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 4): HL: 1.31-1.49 (1.44); HW: 1.17-1.37 (1.32); SL: 0.54-0.6 (0.57); EL: 0.14-0.17 (0.15); WL: 0.9-0.99 (0.96); PSL: 0.19-0.24 (0.22); MTL: 0.53-0.57 (0.55); PNW: 0.62-0.69 (0.67); PTW: 0.17-0.2 (0.19); PPW: 0.54-0.61 (0.57); CI: 89.1-92.3 (91.4); SI: 42.1-46.0 (43.7); PSLI: 14.4-16.2 (15.3); PPI: 31.5-33.2 (32.3); PNI: 50.2-52.9 (51.0); MTI: 40.5-44.9 (42.1). Head. In full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming indistinct transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, suberect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with indistinct foveolae and distinct, sparse, thick, irregular rugae, foveolae fading posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces superficially foveolate; genae shiny, with dense and thin rugulae; malar area with thin, dense longitudinal rugae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching midlength of head; pilosity suberect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, moderately high, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and approximately as high as outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and angular, posterior mesonotum steep, with distinct tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; humeral area laterally well produced. Surface shiny, with thin, moderately dense to dense rugoreticulation, interspaces finely foveolate. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short, with distinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with long, very wide, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity moderately long and erect. Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, short, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, brownish black; lower part of frons and malar area brighter that the rest of head.

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 = 4): HL: 0.48-0.55 (0.51); HW: 0.44-0.49 (0.47); SL: 0.46-0.5 (0.47); EL: 0.1-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.6-0.63 (0.61); PSL: 0.1-0.12 (0.11); MTL: 0.36-0.38 (0.37); PNW: 0.31-0.34 (0.32); PTW: 0.06-0.07 (0.065); PPW: 0.12-0.14 (0.12); CI: 89.8-95.2 (92.3); SI: 98.3-103.9 (101.0); PSLI: 20.3-22.7 (21.3); PPI: 49.6-55.2 (53.1); PNI: 67.2-70.2 (68.7); MTI: 76.0-81.6 (78.8). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae with reduced sculpture. Clypeus with fine and sometimes reduced foveolae; 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 erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow, and with acute apex. Sculpture foveolate; lower half of katepisternum smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae. Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity. 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; Antsiranana; Masoala National Park; -15.32331, 50.30751; alt. 60 m; 10 Mar 2014; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF33068, CASENT0374538. Paratype. Madagascar. 1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923176 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for massive, in reference to massive head of major workers.