Pheidole masoandro

The species was collected at 1125 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nest was located in root mat.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole sikorae species group. Moderately large species. Major: Head in full-face view sub-oval and 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 very dense, long, erect pilosity; medial part of frons with moderately dense, thick, interrupted longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth; occipital lobes smooth and shiny; area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture and smooth notch; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex slightly directed outward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced but not connected; mesosoma predominantly smooth, indistinct, thin, sparse, and irregular rugae occur on lateral sides; body yellow. Minor: Medial part of frons with sparse and fading foveolae and short, longitudinal rugae; lateral sides with thicker and denser foveolae and longitudinal, interrupted, and thick rugae; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately low and short; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines minute and triangular; mesosoma smooth with indistinct foveolae on posterior katepisternum; body yellow.

Pheidole masoandro is a member of a group of species characterised by distinctly reduced head sculpture in major workers with occipital lobes entirely or predominantly smooth, area posterolateral from eyes partially or entirely smooth and shiny or with reduced sculpture and smooth notches. The group consists of four species: Pheidole litigiosa, P. masoandro, Pheidole gracilis, and Pheidole tampony. Pheidole masoandro is the only member of this group known from the Anosyenne Mts. in Toliara. Morphologically P. masoandro is most similar to P. litigiosa distributed in the Antananarivo prefecture. Its major workers can be separated based on medial part of frons with moderately dense, thick, interrupted, and longitudinal rugae and smooth interspaces, sides of the head with very dense, long, erect pilosity, and outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth with apex directed outward; minor workers have distinct promesonotal groove, their propodeal spines are minute and triangular, and frons have additional short rugae. Despite strong morphological differences in major workers, minor workers of P. masoandro, Pheidole sikorae and Pheidole antranohofa are indistinguishable.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole masoandro Salata & Fisher, 2020: 107, figs. 43A–F, 64A, 66E (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 1): HL: 1.05; HW: 1.05; SL: 0.59; EL: 0.15; WL: 1.0; PSL: 0.17; MTL: 0.64; PNW: 0.48; PTW: 0.16; PPW: 0.26; CI: 100.1; SI: 56.4; PSLI: 16.2; PPI: 59.8; PNI: 45.5; MTI: 61.0.

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with very dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with moderately dense, thick, interrupted longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth; lateral sides with longitudinal and thick rugae with distinctly rugofoveolate interspaces. Occipital lobes smooth and shiny. Gena with relatively dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae and distinctly rugofoveolate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture and smooth notch. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately two-fifths of its length; pilosity decumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex slightly directed outward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced but not connected. 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, wide, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny and predominantly smooth, indistinct, thin, sparse, and irregular rugae occur on lateral sides. Pilosity relatively dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse rugofoveolae; peduncle; node smooth, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally 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 = 1): HL: 0.61; HW: 0.56; SL: 0.58; EL: 0.11; WL: 0.77; PSL: 0.09; MTL: 0.5; PNW: 0.35; PTW: 0.09; PPW: 0.16; CI: 109.7; SI: 103.8; PSLI: 14.1; PPI: 58.5; PNI: 62.5; MTI: 90.8.

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly convex or occipital carina absent. Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to subdecumbent. Medial part of frons with sparse and fading foveolae and short, longitudinal rugae; lateral sides with thicker and denser foveolae and longitudinal, interrupted, and thick rugae; 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 one-fifth of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately high and short, arched; promesonotal groove present and distinct; metanotal groove present and distinct; propodeal spines minute and triangular. Sculpture smooth with indistinct foveolae on posterior katepisternum. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face relatively straight(Fig. 43C, E). Postpetiole. Short, low, and relatively flat; with few short, erect setae. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Yellow, vertex and gaster 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; Toliara; Anosy Region, Anosyenne Mts, 31.2 km NW Manantenina; -24.13894, 47.06804; alt. 1125 m; 26 Feb 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex root mat; BLF36559; CASENT0704282. Paratype. 1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923293 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for sun, in reference to bright yellow body colouration.