Pheidole mena

The species was collected between 80–1580 m in elevation, in tropical dry forest, montane rainforest and rainforest. Nest were located in rotten logs and rotten branch on the ground. Workers were collected from sifted litter.

Identification
A member of the Pheidole fervens species group. Pheidole mena is distributed across the Antsiranana prefecture and is sympatric with Pheidole arivo and Pheidole mamirapiratra. Majors of P. mena can be easily separated based on reddish brown body coloration, presence of indistinct concavity connecting inner and outer hypostomal teeth, smooth posteriormost part of the margins of head, and more elongate and rectangular head shape in lateral view. Minors can be distinguished based on combination of the following characters: sparsely rugulate mesosoma, slightly concave anterior mesonotum, and smoothly declining towards propodeum posterior mesonotum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  Pheidole mena Salata & Fisher, 2021: 21, figs. 2F, 3F, 4G, 4N, 5G, 5N, 11A–11F (w.s.) MADAGASCAR.

Type Material

 * HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Antsiranana, Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Roussettes, -12.52574 49.17238, 1025 m, 15-Nov-2007, montane rainforest, ex rotten log, B. L. Fisher et al. leg., BLF18303, CASENT0134205.
 * PARATYPE: 1w., the same data as holotype, CASENT0235028.