Pheidole binara

The species was collected between 498–900 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole masoala complex in the Pheidole masoala species group. Major: Small species: HL: 1.03, HW: 0.97, WL: 0.8; head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes convex; sides of the head with moderately sparse, long, erect pilosity; antennal scrobes present and indistinctly delimited ventrally and posteriorly by carinulae, scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with thick, longitudinal to irregular, and long rugae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth thinner, smaller, and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, dentate; gaster finely shagreened; body yellowish brown. Minor: Head foveolate, genae with fading sculpture but never smooth; promesonotum low, moderately convex, short, with relatively convex posterior declivity; propodeal spines short; mesosoma foveolate.

Pheidole binara is most similar to Pheidole masoala and Pheidole fisaka. Major workers. Pheidole binara differs from P. masoala in absence of shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes, weakly developed antennal scrobes which are not delimited ventrally and posteriorly by carinulae, presence of distinct sculpture between thick rugae on frons and occipital lobes, and never smooth katepisternum; from P.  fisaka in never smooth surface between rugae on frons, never smooth katepisternum, and distinct foveolation on propodeal dorsum. Minor workers. Pheidole binara differs from P. masoala in never smooth sculpture on frons and katepisternum; from P.  fisaka in longer and lower promesonotum, and uniformly foveolate mesosoma sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Major

Nomenclature

 *  binara. Pheidole binara Salata & Fisher, 2020: 217, figs. 80A–F, 84I, 86I (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 1): HL: 1.03; HW: 0.97; SL: 0.49; EL: 0.14; WL: 0.8; PSL: 0.15; MTL: 0.48; PNW: 0.52; PTW: 0.14; PPW: 0.37; CI: 93.8; SI: 50.8; PSLI: 14.4; PPI: 38.6; PNI: 53.9; MTI: 49.3. Head. In full-face view longer than wide, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of head with moderately sparse, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and indistinctly delimited ventrally and posteriorly by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with thick, longitudinal to irregular, and long rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, irregular rugae, interspaces with distinct, irregular rugulae; frons with moderately dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces distinctly rugo-foveolate; genae shiny, with dense and thin, irregular rugoreticulation; malar area with thin, longitudinal, dense rugoreticulation. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with longitudinal rugulae; median notch present, wide, and moderately deep; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly surpassing the midlength of head; pilosity suberect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth thinner, smaller, and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, dentate. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, posterior mesonotum steep, without tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines short, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; humeral area laterally well produced. Surface shiny, foveolate, and with additional short, transverse to irregular, thick rugae on the dorsal surface of propodeum. Pilosity sparse, very long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node slightly convex; pilosity long and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long and erect. Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long, and erect. Colour. Yellowish brown; frons, occipital lobes; dorsal surface of mesosoma and gaster 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 = 1): HL: 0.48; HW: 0.44; SL: 0.43; EL: 0.09; WL: 0.58; PSL: 0.09; MTL: 0.34; PNW: 0.29; PTW: 0.07; PPW: 0.13; CI: 90.3; SI: 99.1; PSLI: 18.8; PPI: 53.5; PNI: 66.8; MTI: 77.1. Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct. Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae with fading sculpture but never smooth. Clypeus foveolate; 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 erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, moderately convex, short, with relatively convex posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex. Sculpture foveolate. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Moderately short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae. Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. 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; Antsiranana; Binara forest; -13.26388, 49.60141; alt. 500 m; 19 Sep 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF32213, CASENT0353299. Paratypes. Madagascar. •1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923182 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.