Pheidole voasara

The species was collected at elevation between 725–1100 m, in gallery forest, and in montane rainforest. Nesting preferences unknown.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole lutea complex in the Pheidole lutea species group. Major: Head, in full-face view, oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes and genae shiny, with sparse, indistinct and irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base, tops directed inward; outer hypostomal bigger and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, with wide base, lobe-like; mesosoma shiny, shiny, foveolate with additional sparse to moderately dense, and moderately thick, rugae, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; upper part of mesosoma with indistinct sculpture; body yellowish brown.

Pheidole voasara is most similar to Pheidole lutea and Pheidole ranohirensis. Major workers. Pheidole voasara differs from P. lutea by surface of genae and antennal scrobes foveolate, lobe-like outer hypostomal teeth, inner hypostomal teeth pointed inward, and by anepisternum, katepisternum, and mesosoma never smooth; from P.  ranohirensis in distinct and never smooth sculpture on anepisternum and mesosoma, frons never foveolate, and lobe-like outer hypostomal teeth, which are bigger and wider than inner hypostomal teeth.

Minor workers. Unknown.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  voasara. Pheidole voasara Salata & Fisher, 2020: 31, figs. 17A–C, 85Z, 88J (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 1.05-1.2 (1.16); HW: 0.96-1.11 (1.06); SL: 0.46-0.52 (0.5); EL: 0.09-0.13 (0.11); WL: 0.79-0.89 (0.85); PSL: 0.12-0.15 (0.13); MTL: 0.46-0.52 (0.49); PNW: 0.46-0.56 (0.53); PTW: 0.13-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.3-0.42 (0.38); CI: 90.9-94.2 (92.0); SI: 45.3-49.6 (46.9); PSLI: 10.2-13.0 (11.5); PPI: 32.7-43.3 (39.2); PNI: 47.3-52.3 (49.6); MTI: 44.4-48.5 (46.3). Head. In full-face view oval, with anterior and posterior sides 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 moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with sparse, thick, longitudinal to irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae. Occipital lobes and genae shiny, with sparse, indistinct and irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth; malar area with dense, thick, longitudinal rugulae, interspaces smooth. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide and indistinct; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base, tops directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth larger and wider than inner, with wide base, lobe-like. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and high, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines small, triangular, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny, foveolate with additional sparse to moderately dense, and moderately thick rugae, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; upper part of mesosoma with indistinct sculpture. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with foveolae; peduncle moderately long, with distinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and with foveolae, dorsum partially smooth; short and flat; in dorsal view very wide, almost semi-oval; pilosity long, moderately dense, and erect. Gaster. Shiny and finely shagreened on the basal part of first tergite; pilosity dense, moderately long and erect. Colour. Unicolourous, orange to yellowish brown; gaster brown; legs dark 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 workers. Unknown.

Type Material
Holotype. Madagascar. 1 major worker; Toliara; Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohijanahary, Forêt d’Ankazotsihitafototra, 35.2 km 312°NW Ambaravaranala; -18.26667, 45.40667; alt. 1050 m; 13 Jan 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF07018, CASENT0050060.

Etymology
Malagasy for orange, in reference to bright body colouration.