Pheidole mamiratra

The species was collected at 1460 m in elevation, in rainforest. Their nests were in soil.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole sikorae species group. Moderately large species. Major: Head in full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex, in lateral view sub-oval, ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial frons with moderately sparse, thick rugae, anteriorly longitudinal and interrupted, posteromedially rugae irregular, interspaces shiny and predominantly smooth, with sparse and indistinct, irregular rugulae; lateral sides with rugae that are longitudinal anteriorly to irregular posteriorly, thick and relatively sparse rugae with distinctly rugoreticulate interspaces; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes never smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced, connected by indistinct concavity; pronotum and mesonotum predominantly smooth with indistinct rugofoveolae and transverse rugae; katepisternum, anepisternum, and propodeum with sparse rugofoveolae; body yellow. Minor: Head foveolate; medial part of frons and vertex with strongly reduced sculpture and predominantly smooth; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum moderately low and short; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines very small and triangular; mesosoma smooth; body yellow.

Pheidole mamiratra is a member of a group of species characterised by body colouration that is bright and yellow to orange in majors and yellow in minors, sub-oval, not widening posteriorly head with sides not convex or convex indistinctly, and medial part of frons with longitudinal and rugae interrupted anteriorly and distinctly irregular posteriorly. The group includes three taxa: Pheidole vony, Pheidole befotaka, and P. mamiratra. Pheidole mamiratra is known from Station Forestière Angavokely in Antananarivo and its distribution does not overlap with two remaining members of the group. Morphologically P. mamiratra is most similar to P. vony, known only from two localities in Toamasina: Montagne d'Anjanaharibe and Montagne d'Akirindro. Major workers of P. mamiratra differ from P. vony in medial part of frons with moderately sparse and thick rugae and inner hypostomal teeth small and triangular with rounded apex directed upward and outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth; minors differ in less distinctly foveolate head sculpture with predominantly smooth frons and entirely smooth area posterolateral from eyes. Additionally, minor and major workers of P. mamiratra can be also confused with Pheidole sparsa, known from Bemanevika in Mahajanga, and sympatric Pheidole hazo, described from the vicinity of Antananarivo. Majors of P. mamiratra differ from P. sparsa and P. hazo in median frons with distinctly irregular rugae and more irregular sculpture on later sides of frons and outer hypostomal teeth wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth; additionally, majors of sympatric P. hazo differ in lack of smooth notches on katepisternum. Minor workers of P. mamiratra differ from P. sparsa and P. hazo in medial part of frons and vertex with strongly reduced sculpture, predominantly smooth vertex, and lack of additional, indistinct rugulae on head.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole mamiratra Salata & Fisher, 2020: 100, figs. 41A–F, 63W, 66C (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 2): HL: 0.95, 0.99; HW: 0.97, 1.03; SL: 0.65, 0.65; EL: 0.13, 0.12; WL: 0.94, 0.95; PSL: 0.16, 0.17; MTL: 0.65, 0.61; PNW: 0.41, 0.44; PTW: 0.13, 0.14; PPW: 0.25, 0.26; CI: 97.8, 96.3; SI: 67.5, 62.6; PSLI: 17.1, 17.2; PPI: 52.6, 57.0; PNI: 41.8, 42.7; MTI: 67.6, 59.1.

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with moderately sparse, thick rugae, anteriorly longitudinal and interrupted, posteromedially rugae irregular, interspaces shiny and predominantly smooth, with sparse and indistinct irregular rugulae; lateral sides with rugae longitudinal anteriorly to irregular posteriorly, thick and relatively sparse rugae with distinctly rugoreticulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with sparse, thick, and irregular rugae; interspaces smooth. Gena with relatively dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae and smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes predominantly smooth, with sparse and indistinct rugoreticulae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced, connected by indistinct concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, moderately wide, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny; pronotum and mesonotum predominantly smooth with indistinct rugofoveolae and transverse rugae; katepisternum, anepisternum, and propodeum with sparse rugofoveolae. Pilosity relatively dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine and dense rugofoveolae; peduncle; node partially smooth, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and smooth; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Yellow; mandibles and gaster slightly darker.

The following characters are found in most Pheidole sikorae species-group majors in Madagascar (Salata and Fisher 2020b). These characters also occur in , except for any differences noted in the paragraph above. Dorsal face of head in lateral view not depressed posteriorly; 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 absent; promesonotum strongly convex, well above the level of propodeum; petiolar peduncle with small horizontal lobes on its basal part; postpetiole short with slightly convex dorsum; petiolar peduncle without horizontal lobes on its basal part; body unicolourous.

Minor (N = 4): HL: 0.56-0.59 (0.58); HW: 0.47-0.51 (0.49); SL: 0.59-0.61 (0.6); EL: 0.1-0.11 (0.11); WL: 0.69-0.74 (0.71); PSL: 0.08-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.48-0.51 (0.5); PNW: 0.31-0.35 (0.33); PTW: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.14-0.16 (0.15); CI: 115.3-121.7 (117.8); SI: 116.1-127.3 (122.3); PSLI: 13.9-15.6 (14.7); PPI: 55.6-70.6 (60.6); PNI: 64.7-68.8 (66.4); MTI: 99.6-102.7 (101.2).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly concave or straight. Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture foveolate; medial part of frons and vertex with strongly reduced sculpture and predominantly smooth; area posterolateral from eyes smooth. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately low and short, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove present and distinct; propodeal spines very small and triangular. Sculpture smooth. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect. Postpetiole. Short, low, and relatively flat; with few short, erect setae. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Yellow, vertex slightly darker.

The following characters are found in most Pheidole sikorae species-group minors in Madagascar (Salata and Fisher 2020b). These characters also occur in , except for any differences noted in the paragraph above. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes absent; occipital carina 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, with node moderately low, triangular, and small, with few short, erect setae; petiolar peduncle with ventral face slightly convex; postpetiole smooth, short, low, and slightly convex, with few short, erect setae; gaster smooth and shiny; body unicolourous.

Type material
Holotype. Madagascar. 1 major worker; Antananarivo; Station Forestière Angavokely; -18.92207, 47.74157; alt. 1460 m; 9 Mar 2013; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex soil; BLF31319; CASENT0303725. Paratypes. 2w., 1q.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923291, CASENT0303724 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for "to shine" or "to give light" in reference to bright body colouration.