Pheidole bemarivoensis

The species was collected between 30–600 m in elevation, in rainforest, tropical dry forest, and disturbed dry forest. Nests were located in rotten logs, branches on ground, and soil.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole bemarivoensis complex in the Pheidole nemoralis species group. Major: Small species: HL: HL: 1.01-1.07 (1.04); HW: 0.94-1.02 (0.99), WL: 0.75-0.81 (0.78); head in full-face view square, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex; in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces superficially foveolate; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, approximately the same size, closely spaced, dentate, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth with base slightly wider than inner hypostomal teeth; gaster indistinctly shagreened; body brown to dark brown. Minor:. Head and mesosoma foveolate; promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; propodeal spines very small.

Pheidole bemarivoensis is most similar to Pheidole bemarahaensis. Major workers. Pheidole bemarivoensis differs from P. bemarahaensis in foveolae covering the whole surface of frons, and weaker sculpture on genae and dorsal surface of promesonotum. Minor workers. P. bemarivoensis differs from P.  bemarivoensis in minute and short propodeal spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  bemarivoensis. Pheidole bemarivoensis Salata & Fisher, 2020: 163, figs. 60A–F, 84H, 86H (w.m.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 1.01-1.07 (1.04); HW: 0.94-1.02 (0.99); SL: 0.43-0.51 (0.48); EL: 0.14-0.15 (0.14); WL: 0.75-0.81 (0.78); PSL: 0.14-0.16 (0.15); MTL: 0.44-0.49 (0.47); PNW: 0.41-0.51 (0.45); PTW: 0.1-0.13 (0.12); PPW: 0.33-0.39 (0.36); CI: 92.8-98.1 (95.1); SI: 46.0-51.0 (48.4); PSLI: 13.0-15.5 (14.2); PPI: 29.0-34.3 (32.3); PNI: 43.5-50.1 (45.9); MTI: 44.9-49.3 (47.1). Head. In full-face view square, anterior and posterior sides of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes very indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, finely foveolate with sparse, thick, longitudinal to irregular rugulae in posterior part. Occipital lobes shiny, with fine foveolae and indistinct, sparse, irregular rugae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons and malar area with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces superficially foveolate; genae shiny, with fine to indistinct foveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, narrow, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner and outer hypostomal teeth distinct, approximately the same size, closely spaced, dentate, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth with base slightly wider than inner hypostomal teeth. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately short, relatively low, and convex, posterior mesonotum steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex; humeral area laterally well produced. Surface shiny, with fine but distinct foveolae, additional sparse, fine, transverse to irregular rugae on promesonotal dorsum and sometimes propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsal surface. Pilosity moderately sparse, very long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short, with short horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node straight or dorsoventrally slightly concave; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae, smooth on dorsum; in dorsal view sides with moderately short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity moderately long, dense, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and indistinctly shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, short, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown; legs yellow.

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: 0.43-0.49 (0.47); HW: 0.39-0.44 (0.42); SL: 0.4-0.45 (0.42); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.5-0.58 (0.54); PSL: 0.07-0.1 (0.09); MTL: 0.29-0.35 (0.32); PNW: 0.25-0.29 (0.27); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.11-0.14 (0.12); CI: 85.9-92.1 (89.8); SI: 96.5-105.9 (100.3); PSLI: 15.2-20.1 (18.1); PPI: 51.3-62.2 (56.9); PNI: 62.4-67.6 (64.3); MTI: 73.3-79.5 (77.1). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate. Clypeus with fine and sometimes reduced foveolae; 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 suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines very small, triangular, apex acute. Sculpture foveolate. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node moderately high, triangular, and small; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Moderately long, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Petiole. With sparse, 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; Mahajanga; Réserve Spéciale de Bemarivo, 23.8 km 223°SW Besalampy; -16.925, 44.36833; alt. 30 m; 19 Nov 2002; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF06797, CASENT0489439. Paratypes. Madagascar. 8w., 2s., 6m.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923160, CASENT0235042, CASENT0489441, CASENT0489440, CASENT0489442, CASENT0489438, CASENT0489437, CASENT0872160-CASENT0872168 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.