Pheidole praegrandis

The species was collected between 250–900 m in elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and tree stumps.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - Major. Large species: HL: 2.94-3.2 (3.0), HW: 2.68-3.1 (2.8), WL: 2.01-2.24 (2.11); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.81-0.96 (0.89)); head in full-face view trapezoid, widened posteriorly; sides of the head without pilosity; frons with fine, dense, longitudinal rugae reaching at most midlength of head; first gastral tergite shagreened, at least on its basal half; body dark brown to black. Minor:. Large species: HL: 1.15-1.29 (1.2), HW: 1.04-1.14 (1.1), WL: 1.86-2.01 (1.92); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.91-1.0 (0.97)); scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by more than half its length; mesosoma finely rugoreticulate; promesonotal groove absent or very indistinct; metanotal groove shallow and wide.

This species is most similar to Pheidole longispinosa and Pheidole mahaboensis. Major workers. Pheidole praegrandis can be distinguished from P. longispinosa by shagreened surface of head and first gastral tergite, and darker body colouration; from P.  mahaboensis by absence of metanotal groove, absence of very sparse, short, decumbent pilosity at the sides of head, and shagreened first gastral tergite and head. Minor workers. Pheidole praegrandis can be distinguished from P. longispinosa by rugoreticulate mesosoma sculpture; from P.  mahaboensis by rugoreticulate mesosoma sculpture, and shallow and wide metanotal groove.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  praegrandis. Pheidole praegrandis Salata & Fisher, 2020: 59, figs. 25A–F, 85S, 88C (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 2.94-3.2 (3.0); HW: 2.68-3.1 (2.8); SL: 1.36-1.45 (1.39); EL: 0.24-0.3 (0.27); WL: 2.01-2.24 (2.11); PSL: 0.81-0.96 (0.89); MTL: 1.53-1.7 (1.6); PNW: 0.84-1.0 (0.92); PTW: 0.28-0.32 (0.3); PPW: 0.76-0.9 (0.82); CI: 90.1-96.6 (93.4); SI: 47.4-51.0 (49.3); PSLI: 27.4-31.7 (29.5); PPI: 33.1-38.4 (36.5); PNI: 30.1-35.9 (32.6); MTI: 54.9-59.9 (56.5). Head. In full-face view trapezoid, widened posteriorly. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head without pilosity; frons and vertex with few, long, erect setae. Antennal scrobes absent. Occipital lobes shiny and smooth or partially shagreened; genae smooth and shiny, sometimes partially shagreened; centre of frons shiny with fine, dense, longitudinal rugae reaching at most midlength of head; malar area shagreened with several short, longitudinal rugae; lateral sides of head and posterior part of frons shagreened; head sculpture weakens posteriorly. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, shallow and wide; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular and thick, with rounded apex, closely spaced; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, slightly smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, lobe-like. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, and relatively flat; dorsal pronotum slightly convex; dorsal mesonotum slightly concave; posterior mesonotum relatively convex; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly or not produced. Surface shiny, rugoreticulate, propodeal dorsum with weaker sculpture. Pilosity very sparse, short, and decumbent; dorsum with few additional, long, erect setae. Petiole. Weakly shagreened; peduncle relatively long and thin; node triangular with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally depressed; pilosity sparse, short, and erect. Postpetiole. Weakly shagreened; in dorsal view sides with acute, moderately wide, short, and triangular projections; pilosity short to long, sparse and erect. Gaster. First gastral tergite shagreened, at least on its basal half; pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, dark brown to black.

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 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: 1.15-1.29 (1.2); HW: 1.04-1.14 (1.1); SL: 1.52-1.69 (1.62); EL: 0.17-0.2 (0.19); WL: 1.86-2.01 (1.92); PSL: 0.91-1.0 (0.97); MTL: 1.42-1.54 (1.49); PNW: 0.75-0.81 (0.77); PTW: 0.15-0.2 (0.17); PPW: 0.27-0.35 (0.32); CI: 87.5-92.7 (89.7); SI: 140.8-156.6 (147.6); PSLI: 75.8-84.0 (78.5); PPI: 45.6-60.8 (53.1); PNI: 67.6-72.1 (70.1); MTI: 126.2-143.4 (134.8). Head. Occipital margin convex; occipital carina narrow, weakly developed. Pilosity sparse, short, and appressed on the whole surface and additionally long and erect on frons and median part of occiput. Sculpture variable, shiny, smooth to finely rugulose on vertex, centre, and posterior part of frons and genae; lateral sides of head finely rugulose; antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by more than half of its length; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, and slightly convex; promesonotal groove absent or very indistinct; metanotal groove shallow and wide; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex. Surface finely rugoreticulate. Pilosity short, very sparse, suberect. Petiole. Peduncle long and thin; node triangular with rounded apex; pilosity absent. Postpetiole. Moderately short, low, and slightly convex; with two long, erect setae at the anterior edge. Gaster. With few long, erect setae. Colour. Unicolourous, dark brown to black.

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; Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 27.6 km 35°NE Andapa, 9.6 km 327°NNW Manantenina; -14.435, 49.76; alt. 775 m; 15 Nov 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF08889, CASENT0494942, top specimen on the pin. Paratypes. Madagascar. 9w., 2s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0494952, CASENT0872086, CASENT0494943-CASENT0494945, CASENT0872223-CASENT0872229 (CASC).

Etymology
Latin for huge, in reference to large body size and very long propodeal spines.