Pheidole maizina

The species was collected at between 400–1200 m in elevation, in rainforest, montane rainforest, and transitional humid forest. Nests were located in in rotten logs and stumps, and in rotten sticks on the ground.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole scabrata  complex in the Pheidole longispinosa species group. Major. Large species: HL: 2.38-2.71 (2.55), HW: 2.17-2.54 (2.4), WL: 1.6-1.95 (1.76); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.48-0.59 (0.54)); head in full-face view trapezoid, widened posteriorly; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; frons with longitudinal, sparse, and directed outward rugae, interspaces with dense and fine rugulae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; first gastral tergite shagreened, at least on its basal part; body dark brown to black; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular and thick, with rounded apex, closely spaced; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, low, lobe-like, with wide base and tops directed outward, smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth. Minor:. Large species: HL: 0.85-1.03 (0.93), HW: 0.8-1.0 (0.89), WL: 1.21-1.47 (1.36); propodeal spines very long (PSL: 0.34-0.44 (0.39)); scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by one-third of its length; head sculpture rugoreticulate; mesosoma with dense rugoreticulation, sometimes dorsum with weaker sculpture, but never smooth.

This species is most similar to Pheidole scabrata. Major workers. Pheidole maizina can be distinguished from P. scabrata by having distinct rugulae on at least half of the genae, tips of outer hypostomal teeth directed outward, never smooth katepisternum, densely shagreened surface of first gastral tergite, and darker body colouration. Minor workers. Pheidole maizina can be distinguished from P. scabrata by rugoreticulate head sculpture with never smooth genae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Major

Nomenclature

 *  maizina. Pheidole maizina Salata & Fisher, 2020: 66, figs. 27A–F, 85C, 87G (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 2.38-2.71 (2.55); HW: 2.17-2.54 (2.4); SL: 0.95-1.17 (1.08); EL: 0.24-0.3 (0.27); WL: 1.6-1.95 (1.76); PSL: 0.48-0.59 (0.54); MTL: 1.16-1.28 (1.23); PNW: 0.8-0.95 (0.9); PTW: 0.24-0.31 (0.28); PPW: 0.7-0.92 (0.83); CI: 91.3-98.5 (94.0); SI: 43.6-46.3 (45.2); PSLI: 19.8-22.6 (21.2); PPI: 31.0-36.0 (34.1); PNI: 35.5-38.8 (37.4); MTI: 49.5-53.8 (51.2). 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 with sparse, relatively long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately sparse, long, erect setae. Antennal scrobes absent. Occipital lobes shiny, and smooth at posterior part, anterior part with fine and dense rugulae; genae shiny, with fine and dense rugulae, sometimes posterior part smooth or with reduced sculpture; malar area and frons with longitudinal, sparse, and directed outward rugae, interspaces with dense and fine rugulae; lateral sides of head shiny, with dense and fine rugulae and thin, indistinct, longitudinal rugae. 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 mid-length of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular, and thick, with rounded apex, closely spaced; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, low, lobe-like, with wide base and tops directed outward, smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, low, and evenly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny, with dense rugoreticulation, mesosomal dorsum and propodeum with weaker sculpture, but never smooth. Pilosity relatively dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Shagreened; peduncle relatively long and thin; node triangular with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly depressed; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shagreened; in dorsal view sides with acute, and short to moderately short angular projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Petiole. First gastral tergite shagreened, at least on its basal part; 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 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: 0.85-1.03 (0.93); HW: 0.8-1.0 (0.89); SL: 1.07-1.2 (1.16); EL: 0.16-0.21 (0.18); WL: 1.21-1.47 (1.36); PSL: 0.34-0.44 (0.39); MTL: 0.91-1.1 (1.01); PNW: 0.55-0.66 (0.61); PTW: 0.1-0.16 (0.13); PPW: 0.19-0.28 (0.23); CI: 93.3-101.0 (95.5); SI: 122.0-135.6 (130.7); PSLI: 40.0-44.9 (42.3); PPI: 50.5-60.2 (55.3); PNI: 66.3-70.4 (68.7); MTI: 111.2-117.0 (114.1). Head. Occipital margin convex; occipital carina narrow, weakly developed. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Sculpture variable, finely to strongly rugoreticulate on the whole surface; only centre of frons sometimes with sculpture reduced or smooth; 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 one-third of its length; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, and slightly convex; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove very indistinct; propodeal spines very long, massive basally, with acute apex. Surface shiny, with dense rugoreticulation, sometimes dorsum with weaker sculpture, but never smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Finely shagreened; peduncle long and thin; node triangular with rounded apex; with few long, erect setae. Postpetiole. Moderately shagreened; moderately short, low, and convex; with few long, erect setae at the anterior edge. Petiole. 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; Toamasina; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato River; -16.80561, 49.29507; alt. 480 m; 27 Feb 2010; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF25039, CASENT0162231. Paratypes. Madagascar. 2w., 1q.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0162230, CASENT0923223, CASENT0872222 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for dark, in reference to dark body colouration.