Pheidole navoatrensis

The species was collected at elevation between 70–1640 m, in dry forest on sandy soil, in Uapaca woodland, in savannah woodland, in tropical dry forest, in gallery forest, in shrubland. Nests were located in soil and under stones.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole navoatrensis complex in the Pheidole lutea species group. Major. Head elongate; sides of the head with very sparse, moderately short, erect pilosity; frons smooth, with few short, thick, longitudinal rugae on the anterior part; genae shiny and smooth; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth weakly developed, dentate; body yellow to orange; mesosoma smooth, sometimes with indistinct and sparse foveolae or rugulae on propodeum and promesonotum. Minor:. Body yellow; head shiny and smooth, only lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; propodeal spines short and triangular; mesosoma smooth and shiny.

Pheidole navoatrensis is most similar to Pheidole typhlos. Major workers. Pheidole navoatrensis differs from P. typhlos in well-developed eyes, never smooth occipital lobes, small inner hypostomal teeth and weakly developed outer hypostomal teeth, and posterior mesonotum never convex. Minor workers. Pheidole navoatrensis differs from P. typhlos in convex promesonotum, big eyes, and shallow metanotal groove.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  navoatrensis. Pheidole navoatrensis Salata & Fisher, 2020: 34, figs. 18A–F, 85M, 87R (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 1.09-1.45 (1.21); HW: 0.86-1.14 (0.94); SL: 0.46-0.58 (0.5); EL: 0.12-0.15 (0.13); WL: 0.84-1.02 (0.91); PSL: 0.14-0.19 (0.17); MTL: 0.49-0.6 (0.53); PNW: 0.5-0.65 (0.55); PTW: 0.15-0.19 (0.17); PPW: 0.3-0.41 (0.34); CI: 74.5-80.3 (77.8); SI: 50.2-56.7 (53.1); PSLI: 12.9-15.6 (14.0); PPI: 43.3-54.9 (49.3); PNI: 56.6-61.4 (58.0); MTI: 52.4 -59.9 (57.1). Head. In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes straight and slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with very sparse, moderately short, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, very short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes very weakly impressed and not delimited, scrobe surface shiny, with thick, longitudinal, short, and interrupted rugae; interspaces distinctly rugo-foveolate. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces rugo-foveolate, rugae fading anteriorly; frons smooth, with few short, thick, longitudinal rugae on the anterior part; genae shiny and smooth; malar area with thin, longitudinal, moderately dense rugae, interspaces smooth or with indistinct rugulae. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae indistinct. Scape, when laid back, not reaching the midlength of head; pilosity subdecumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, small, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth weakly developed, dentate. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, posterior mesonotum convex, without tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small, triangular, with sharp apex and wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct and sparse foveolae or rugulae on propodeum and promesonotum. Pilosity moderately dense, very long and suberect to erect. Petiole. Shiny; peduncle moderately long, finely foveolate, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long, moderately dense and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity dense, short, and erect. Colour. Yellow to orange; malar area, lower frons and gaster dark yellow to 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 = 5): HL: 0.45-0.49 (0.47); HW: 0.41-0.45 (0.43); SL: 0.39-0.43 (0.41); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.53-0.59 (0.54); PSL: 0.06-0.09 (0.07); MTL: 0.33-0.36 (0.35); PNW: 0.27-0.3 (0.28); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.1-0.12 (0.11); CI: 88.7-90.7 (89.7); SI: 90.7-99.1 (95.6); PSLI: 12.6-17.5 (15.1); PPI: 61.5-75.5 (66.2); PNI: 64.0-68.5 (66.7); MTI: 78.0-84.3 (80.7). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately dense, long, suberect. Whole head shiny and smooth, only lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching posterior head margin; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum convex; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short and triangular, apex acute. Sculpture smooth and shiny. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node globular; with few moderately long, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few moderately long, erect setae. Gaster. With moderately dense, 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; Antananarivo; Navoatra I Non-Protected Area, 7.64 km NW Arivonimamo; -18.97806, 47.11929; alt. 1373 m; 6 May 2010; Andrianjaka & Ravelomanana leg.; CASENT0204235. Paratype. Madagascar. 1w.; same data as for holotype; ARA0915, CASENT0204254 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.