Pheidole ranohirensis

The species was collected at elevation between 30–600 m, in gallery forest, in tropical dry forest, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and in dead twigs above ground.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole lutea complex in the Pheidole lutea species group. Major: Head in full-face view oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex; sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes and genae shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and narrow base; outer hypostomal approximately smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, dentate; mesosoma shiny, foveolate with additional sparse and thick rugae on promesonotal dorsum and propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; anepisternum and mesosoma with indistinct sculpture or smooth; body reddish brown. Minor:. Frons, genae, and malar area smooth and shiny; vertex smooth and shiny with few arcuate, interrupted rugae; promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; propodeal spines very small, indistinct, triangular; mesosoma smooth and shiny, only dorsum with few transverse, thick rugulae.

Pheidole ranohirensis is most similar to Pheidole lutea and Pheidole voasara. Major workers. Pheidole ranohirensis differs from P. lutea by surface of genae and antennal scrobes foveolate, dentate outer hypostomal teeth, which are smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth and is never pointed outward, and by anepisternum, katepisternum, and mesosoma never entirely smooth; from P.  voasara in indistinct or partially smooth sculpture on anepisternum and mesosoma, foveolate frons, and dentate outer hypostomal teeth, which are smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Pheidole ranohirensis differs from P. lutea in promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, and with relatively steep posterior declivity. Minor workers of P. voasara are unknown.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  ranohirensis. Pheidole ranohirensis Salata & Fisher, 2020: 27, figs. 16A–F, 85T, 87D (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 0.92-1.08 (0.97); HW: 0.83-0.99 (0.87); SL: 0.46-0.57 (0.49); EL: 0.08-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.76-0.93 (0.8); PSL: 0.09-0.12 (0.11); MTL: 0.42-0.53 (0.45); PNW: 0.46-0.51 (0.49); PTW: 0.12-0.15 (0.13); PPW: 0.33-0.37 (0.35); CI: 89.1-92.7 (90.9); SI: 51.9-59.0 (55.6); PSLI: 9.4-13.2 (11.3); PPI: 35.9-44.1 (39.8); PNI: 51.4-59.4 (55.9); MTI: 49.5-53.5 (51.6). Head. In full-face view oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with sparse, thick, longitudinal rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae. Occipital lobes and genae shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae; malar area with dense, thick, longitudinal rugulae, interspaces smooth. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide, and indistinct; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and narrow base; outer hypostomal teeth approximately smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, dentate. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and relatively high, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines minute, triangular, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny, foveolate with additional sparse and thick rugae on promesonotal dorsum and propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; anepisternum and mesosoma with indistinct sculpture or smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse foveolae; peduncle moderately long, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae; in dorsal view postpetiole very wide, almost semi-oval; pilosity long, moderately sparse and erect. Gaster. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, reddish brown; legs dark yellow; gaster 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: 0.43-0.47 (0.45); HW: 0.39-0.42 (0.41); SL: 0.41-0.44 (0.42); EL: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); WL: 0.5-0.56 (0.53); PSL: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); MTL: 0.3-0.35 (0.32); PNW: 0.26-0.28 (0.27); PTW: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); PPW: 0.1-0.14 (0.12); CI: 86.1-95.8 (89.9); SI: 101.7-112.2 (104.8); PSLI: 11.9-15.2 (13.4); PPI: 47.3-59.8 (52.2); PNI: 65.4-72.7 (67.5); MTI: 74.3 -85.7 (79.0). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Frons, genae, and malar area smooth and shiny; vertex smooth and shiny with few arcuate, interrupted rugae; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae. Clypeus with 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 suberect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines very small, indistinct, triangular, apex acute. Sculpture smooth and shiny, only dorsum with few transverse, thick rugulae. Pilosity sparse, moderately short, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node low, triangular, and small; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Gaster. With 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; Fianarantsoa; Parc National d’Isalo, Sahanafa River, 29.2 km 351°N Ranohira; -22.31333, 45.29167; alt. 500 m; 10 Feb 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF07681, CASENT0490851, top specimen. Paratypes. Madagascar. •6w., 5s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0490850, CASENT0490852-CASENT0490854, CASENT0490856, CASENT0872083, CASENT0872206-CASENT0872214 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.