Pheidole madinika

The species was collected between 775–850 in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - Major: Small species: HL: 0.98-1.06 (1.02), HW: 0.91-0.94 (0.92, WL: 0.73-0.83 (0.78); head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior and posterior sides of eyes relatively convex; sides of head with sparse, moderately long, erect pilosity; antennal scrobes present, weakly impressed, and indistinctly delimited, scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, longitudinal rugulae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, lobe-like; gaster smooth; body dark brown. Minor:. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture or partially smooth; promesonotum low, long, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; propodeal spines small; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum foveolate with smooth notch.

Pheidole madinika is most similar to Pheidole masoala. Major workers. Pheidole madinika differs from P. masoala in dark brown body colouration, absence of transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes, and weakly impressed and not distinctly delimited antennal scrobes. Minor workers. Pheidole madinika differs from P. masoala by steep posterior declivity of promesonotum, and relatively deep and distinct metanotal groove.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  madinika. Pheidole madinika Salata & Fisher, 2020: 211, figs. 78A–F, 84A, 87D (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 3): HL: 0.98-1.06 (1.02); HW: 0.91-0.94 (0.92); SL: 0.41-0.45 (0.43); EL: 0.11-0.14 (0.12); WL: 0.73-0.83 (0.78); PSL: 0.13-0.16 (0.14); MTL: 0.42-0.46 (0.44); PNW: 0.45-0.51 (0.48); PTW: 0.12-0.14 (0.13); PPW: 0.28-0.35 (0.31); CI: 88.8-92.3 (90.3); SI: 45.6-48.4 (47.0); PSLI: 12.7-14.7 (13.7); PPI: 39.3-43.3 (41.7); PNI: 49.7-53.9 (51.5); MTI: 46.4-48.8 (47.8). Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior and posterior sides of eyes relatively 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 invisible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, moderately long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes present, indistinctly delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thick, longitudinal rugulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth, and with fine but distinct foveolae on the upper half of frons; malar area with dense, thick, longitudinal to irregular rugulae, interspaces foveolate; genae shiny, with fine rugulae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide, and indistinct; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae present. 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 wide base; outer hypostomal teeth smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, lobe-like. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately long, relatively low and convex, posterior mesonotum steep, with small, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present; propodeal spines small, triangular, with rounded apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae, additional sparse and thin rugae on promesonotal dorsum and sometimes propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsal and lateral surfaces of pronotum; katepisternum and lower parts of lateral surfaces of propodeum smooth. Pilosity sparse, long and subdecumbent to erect. Petiole. Shiny and foveolate; peduncle short, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node straight; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae, smooth on dorsum; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and smooth; pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, dark brown; lower part of lateral sides of mesosoma, malar area and frons yellowish 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 = 3): HL: 0.42-0.48 (0.45); HW: 0.38-0.42 (0.4); SL: 0.4-0.42 (0.41); EL: 0.08-0.09 (0.08); WL: 0.49-0.53 (0.51); PSL: 0.07-0.07 (0.07); MTL: 0.3-0.32 (0.31); PNW: 0.26-0.26 (0.26); PTW: 0.06-0.07 (0.06); PPW: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); CI: 87.1-90.7 (89.2); SI: 100.5-105.2 (102.3); PSLI: 15.4-16.0 (15.7); PPI: 63.7-70.4 (67.5); PNI: 62.8-68.8 (65.7); MTI: 75.75-79.5 (77.1). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture or partially smooth. Clypeus foveolate; 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, long, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small, indistinct, triangular, apex acute. Sculpture foveolate, katepisternum foveolate with smooth notch. Pilosity sparse, long, 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. Petiole. 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; Antsiranana; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 27.9 km 24.3°NE Andapa; -14.43462, 49.75853; alt. 850 m; 9 Feb 2018; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF40907, CASENT0808089. Paratypes. Madagascar. 2w., 1m.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0808090, CASENT0923166, CASENT0872173 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for small, in reference to small body size.