Pheidole lamperos

The species was collected at elevation between 980–1100 meters, in montane forest. Nests were located in rotten logs.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole lamperos complex in the Pheidole masoala species group. Major: Head sub-rectangular; body black; sides of the head with moderately sparse, long, erect pilosity; frons with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal, and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulose; genae shiny, with sparse and thin, irregular rugoreticulation, posterior part smooth; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth thinner, smaller, and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, dentate. Minor: Body dark brown; head with sparse but distinct foveolae, and additional longitudinal to irregular, thick rugae on frons and malar area, and thick, sparse, and arcuate rugae on vertex; mesosoma with thick and sparse foveolae; promesonotum with additional sparse, thick, transverse rugae; lateral sides of propodeum with thick, longitudinal rugae; katepisternum and mesonotum smooth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Major

Nomenclature

 *  lamperos. Pheidole lamperos Salata & Fisher, 2020: 223, figs. 82A–F, 84W, 87A (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 2): HL: 1.16-1.13; HW: 1.08-1.02; SL: 0.46-0.5; EL: 0.16-0.13; WL: 0.88-0.82; PSL: 0.18-0.17; MTL: 0.47-0.46; PNW: 0.55-0.49; PTW: 0.15-0.13; PPW: 0.41-0.32; CI: 93.1-90.1; SI: 42.7-48.8; PSLI: 15.7-14.8; PPI: 36.7-41.6; PNI: 50.9-48.1; MTI: 43.5-44.7. Head. In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes relatively straight. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with moderately sparse, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with thick, longitudinal, and long rugae; interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulose. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae fading posteriorly; frons with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal, and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulose; genae shiny, with sparse and thin, irregular rugoreticulation, posterior part smooth; malar area with thin, longitudinal, dense rugae. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, narrow and moderately shallow; median longitudinal carina present, indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth thinner, smaller, and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, dentate. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, without tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny, promesonotum, katepisternum, anepisternum, and dorsoventral surface of propodeum smooth, with very indistinct, short irregular rugulae, only lower part of lateral sides of propodeum with thin, longitudinal rugulae; lateral sides of propodeum shiny, with thick, longitudinal rugae. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny; peduncle short, finely foveolate, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened, with smooth dorsum; in dorsal view sides with moderately long, acute, wide, and triangular projections; pilosity moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect. Colour. Black; legs brownish black.

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: 0.47-0.48 (0.48); HW: 0.44-0.46 (0.44); SL: 0.41-0.44 (0.43); EL: 0.08-0.09 (0.09); WL: 0.55-0.58 (0.56); PSL: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); MTL: 0.31-0.33 (0.32); PNW: 0.28-0.29 (0.29); PTW: 0.06-0.06 (0.06); PPW: 0.1-0.11 (0.1); CI: 92.4-95.4 (93.7); SI: 92.5-97.6 (95.6); PSLI: 19.0-19.6 (19.4); PPI: 55.3-59.4 (58.0); PNI: 63.2-64.5 (63.9); MTI: 70.1-73.4 (72.0). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina present, weakly developed. Pilosity sparse, long, suberect to erect. Head shiny, with sparse but distinct foveolae, and additional longitudinal to irregular, thick rugae on frons and malar area, and thick, sparse, and arcuate rugae on vertex; genae and malar area smooth. Clypeus smooth, with basal part finely rugulose; median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae indistinct. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, slightly convex, long, with posterior declivity smoothly declining towards propodeum; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex. Sculpture with thick and sparse foveolae; promesonotum with additional sparse, thick, transverse rugae; lateral sides of propodeum with thick, longitudinal rugae; katepisternum and mesonotum smooth. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and decumbent to 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 sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Dark brown.

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; Galoko chain, Mont Galoko; -13.5888, 48.72864; alt. 980 m; 20 Feb 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF30940, CASENT0300132. Paratypes. Madagascar. •2w., 1q.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0300131, CASENT0923181, CASENT0872205 (CASC).

Etymology
Greek for shiny [λαμπερός], in reference to dark and very shiny sculpture of minor and major workers.