Pheidole lutea species group

Based on Salata & Fisher, 2020.

Species
Pheidole lutea complex Pheidole navoatrensis complex
 * Pheidole lutea
 * Pheidole ranohirensis
 * Pheidole voasara
 * Pheidole navoatrensis
 * Pheidole parviocula
 * Pheidole typhlos

Species Identification

 * Key to Pheidole lutea species group

Group Diagnosis
Major workers Head, in full-face view, oval or elongate, in lateral view sub-oval, ventral and dorsal faces convex or relatively flat; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; antennal scrobes absent or very indistinct, occipital lobes smooth or with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with thick rugae, interspaces smooth to rugo-foveolate; genae smooth or with thick, sparse, irregular rugae; promesonotum relatively low to high, and arched; propodeal spines absent, weakly developed, and lobe-like or small and short, triangular; mesosoma surface with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation (dorsal surface with weaker sculpture) or smooth; body yellow to occasionally bright brown.

Minor workers At least frons, genae, and malar area smooth and shiny, sometimes lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; scape short, when laid back, reaching posterior head margin or surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum, in lateral view, convex or box-like; mesosoma almost entirely smooth; body yellow.

Distribution
Madagascar.

Pheidole lutea species complex: Distributed across dry deciduous forest biome and Sambirano rainforest biome.

Pheidole navoatrensis species complex: Known from central highlands, with P. navoatrensis also extending its range into the dry deciduous biome. Pheidole typhlos is known only from its type locality, the Galoko massif.

Additional Resources

 * Pheidole
 * Madagascar