Pheidole longispinosa species group

Based on Salata & Fisher, 2020.

Species
Pheidole scabrata complex Pheidole longispinosa complex
 * Pheidole scabrata
 * Pheidole maizina
 * Pheidole longispinosa
 * Pheidole praegrandis
 * Pheidole mahaboensis

Species Identification

 * Key to Pheidole longispinosa species group

Group Diagnosis
Major workers Large species; head, in full-face view, trapezoid, widened posteriorly, in lateral view sub-oval, ventral and dorsal faces convex, dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; antennal scrobes absent or indistinct; occipital lobes smooth, at least on the posterior part; genae smooth to finely rugulose; head sculpture weakens posteriorly; promesonotum short, low, and evenly convex; propodeal spines very long; first gastral tergite smooth to shagreened; body brown to black.

Minor workers Head smooth to rugoreticulate, central part of frons usually with smooth notch; scape, when laid back, surpassing posterior head margin by one third or more than half of its length; promesonotum low, long, and slightly convex; promesonotal groove absent or very indistinct; metanotal groove very indistinct; propodeal spines very long; petiole with long and thin peduncle; body brown to black.

Distribution
Madagascar.

Pheidole longispinosa species complex: A majority of P. longispinosa records are from the central highlands, with the remainder in dry deciduous biome and evergreen rainforest. Pheidole mahaboensis is distributed across the evergreen rainforest biome and central highlands. In the southern part of its distribution it is sympatric with P. longispinosa. Pheidole praegrandis is known exclusively from the evergreen rainforest biome with its centre of distribution in the northernmost part. In the remaining areas of the biome P. praegrandis is sympatric with P. mahaboensis.

The two species of the Pheidole scabrata species complex occur sympatrically in the northern parts of evergreen forest and central highlands biomes.

Additional Resources

 * Pheidole
 * Madagascar