Pheidole hainanensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Chen et al. (2011) - This new species is closely related to Pheidole acantha but differs from the later by its triangular and much shorter pronotal spines, the petiolar node in profile being bluntly rounded at apex, not acute, the hypostoma median processes being absent, distinct submedian processes, a pair of well developed lateral processes, and postpetiole 2.4 times as broad as the petiolar node. In addition, it differs from other species with pronotal spines in the Oriental Region as its pronotal spines are shorter, and the first gastral tergite is smooth and shining.

Distribution
Hainan Province, China.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the major and minor castes.

Nomenclature

 *  hainanensis. Pheidole hainanensis Chen, Ye, et al. 2011: 3, figs. 1-8 (s.w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype major: TL 4.7, HL 1.58, HW 1.45, CI 91, SL 0.83, SI 57, PW 0.66, AL 1.27. Head longer than broad, occipital border deeply concave medially, in profile not impressed on vertex. Masticatory margin of mandible with apical and preapical teeth. Clypeus with an unconspicuous median longitudinal carina, anterior margin concave medially. Eye situated at about 1/3 distance of the head. Frontal carina extending backward to about 2/3 distance of the head. Antennal scrobe inconspicuous, only around antennal insertion. Antenna with a 3-segmented club, antennal scape reaching about 2/3 distance of the head. Hypostoma median processes absent, submedian processes conspicuous but low, lateral processes well developed. Pronotal dome with a pair of triangular spines, which are short, borad at base. In profile view, mesonotum with a conspicuous transverse ridge on its posterior slope. Propodeal spine elongate-triangular, 1.7 times as long as diameter of the propodeal spiracle, straight, backward and upward, broad at base. Petiolar node in profile view with anterior face inclined, posterior face vertical, bluntly rounded at apex; subpetiolar process completely absent. Postpetiolar node 2.4 time as broad as the petiolar node.

Mandible mooth and shining. Dorsum of head longitudinally rugose, with smooth interspaces; dorsolateral surface of occipital lobe very weakly reticulate. Dorsum of pronotal dome sparsely transversely rugose. Mesonotum and propodeum irregularly rugose and reticulate. Sides of pronotum transversely rugose. Mesopleuron irregularly rugose. Sides of propodeum longitudinally rugose. Sides of petiole weakly reticulate. Dorsum of petiole and postpetiole, and gaster smooth and shining. Head and whole body with moderate dense standing hair. Pubescence sparse. Outer surface of the mandible sparsely covered with appressed to decumbent hairs. Body reddish-brown, gaster, flagella and legs lighter.

Minor: TL 3.3, HL 0.67, HW 0.65, CI 93, SL 0.78, SI 122, PW 0.42, AL 0.99. Head in full-face view oval, with distinct occipital carina. Clypeus with a weakly median longitudinal carina, with anterior margin in full-face view slightly convex or straight medially. Eye situated just in front of midlength of the head; Frontal carina and antennal scrobe present only around the antennal insertion. Antennae with 3-segmented club; in full-face view scape extending beyond the posterior of the head by more than 1/3 its length; Pronotal dome with a pair of dorsolateral spines. Mesonotum with a low but distinct transverse ridge on its posterior slope. Propodeal spine 1.6 times as long as diameter of the propodeal spiracle, straight, backward and upward. Petiolar node is the same shape of the major. Postpetiole hemiglobed, higher than the petiole, nearly 3 times as broad as the petiole in dorsal view. Mandible smooth and shining in front, sparsely longitudinally rugose laterally. Clypeus and dorsum of head smooth and shining, area between the antennal scrobe and the eye longitudinally rugose, smooth and shining interspaces. Area around eye with rugose-reticulate. Alitrunk coarsely reticulate; sides of petiole finely reticulate. Dorsum of petiole, postpetiole, and gaster smooth and shining. Body sparsely bearing standing hairs. Body brown to reddish-brown. Antennae, legs, postpetiole and gaster a little lighter.

Paratype 1 major: TL 4.6, HL 1.46, CI 100, SL 0.80, SI 53, PW 0.66, AL l.23, ED 0.17. 2 minor: TL 3.2-3.3. HL 0.6-0.67, HW 0.61-0.66, CI 92-93, SL 0.75-0.80, SI 121-123, PW 0.42, AL 0.99.

Type Material
Holotype major and minor. China: Jianfengling, Ledong county, Hainan Province, 16 June, 2006 (JianhuaHuang). Paratypes 1 major and 2 minors, wuzhi Mt. Nature Reserve, Hainan Province, 10 August, 2006 (Fang Qian).

Lubertazzi - It is implied, but not definitively stated, in the paper containing the description that the type is deposited in the Insect Collection of Guangxi Normal University.

Etymology
The species is named after its type-locality, Hainan.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen Z., D. Ye, C. Lu, and S. Zhou. 2011. New species of the ant genus Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Hainan province, China. Sociobiology 58(1): 1-7.