Pheidole mavesatra

The species was collected at 218 m in elevation, in disturbed rainforest. Nests were located under moss.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole mavesatra complex in the Pheidole petax species group. Major: Head in full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, suberect pilosity; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thin, longitudinal rugae; closely spaced, low, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and higher than outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base; gaster finely shagreened; body brown to dark brown. Minor:. Head foveolate, genae with reduced sculpture; promesonotum low, long, relatively flat, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate; katepisternum and sometimes mesosoma smooth; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow; body yellow.

Pheidole mavesatra is most similar to Pheidole goavana. Major workers. Pheidole mavesatra differs from P. goavana in brown to dark brown body colouration, smooth katepisternum, and promesonotum and lateral surfaces of propodeum with additional thick, sparse, and irregular rugae. Minor workers. Pheidole mavesatra differs from P. goavana in promesonotum low, long, relatively flat, and narrow propodeal spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  mavesatra. Pheidole mavesatra Salata & Fisher, 2020: 186, figs. 69A–F, 85J, 87N (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 1): HL: 1.3; HW: 1.2; SL: 0.53; EL: 0.14; WL: 0.92; PSL: 0.21; MTL: 0.52; PNW: 0.62; PTW: 0.15; PPW: 0.47; CI: 92.6; SI: 43.8; PSLI: 15.8; PPI: 32.5; PNI: 51.5; MTI: 43.1. Head. In full-face view rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, relatively long, suberect pilosity; whole head with dense, moderately short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with sparse, thin, longitudinal rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with indistinct foveolae and distinct, sparse, thick, irregular rugae, foveolae fading posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces superficially foveolate; genae shiny, with distinct and thin rugulae; malar area with thin, dense, longitudinal rugae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina indistinct; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, low, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and higher than outer hypostomal teeth, dentate, and with relatively narrow base. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and angular, posterior mesonotum steep, with indistinct tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex and very wide base; humeral area laterally well produced. Surface shiny and foveolate, foveolae fading on the dorsal surface of promesonotum; promesonotum and lateral surfaces of propodeum with additional thick, sparse, and irregular rugae; katepisternum smooth. Pilosity sparse, long and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle moderately long, 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 long, acute, and horn-like projections; pilosity long and erect. Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown; lower part of frons and malar area brighter that the rest of head.

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: 0.51; HW: 0.48; SL: 0.51; EL: 0.11; WL: 0.6; PSL: 0.09; MTL: 0.37; PNW: 0.31; PTW: 0.05; PPW: 0.11; CI: 93.9; SI: 105.6; PSLI: 18.1; PPI: 46.5; PNI: 65.1; MTI: 78.0. Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae with reduced sculpture. 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 erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, relatively flat, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, narrow, and with acute apex. Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum and sometimes mesosoma smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Moderately short, low and 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; Toamasina; Tampolo, 39.4 km SSE Maroantsetra; -15.70978, 49.96965; alt. 218 m; 30 Aug 2007; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF17995, CASENT0134807. Paratype. Madagascar. 1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923177 (CASC).

Etymology
Malagasy for heavy, in reference to massive head of major workers.