Pheidole andapa

The species was collected at 1325 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nest was located in the petiole of Melastomataceae.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole masoala complex in the Pheidole masoala species group. Major: Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes convex; sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal rugae; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, moderately high, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and approximately as high as outer hypostomal teeth, triangular, and with relatively wide base; propodeal spines moderately long, with base slightly wider than top; gaster smooth; body black. Minor: Head foveolate, genae smooth; promesonotum low, slightly convex, short, with posterior declivity steep; mesosoma foveolate; katepisternum and mesosoma smooth; propodeal spines very short, triangular; body dark yellow.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  andapa. Pheidole andapa Salata & Fisher, 2020: 220, figs. 81A–F, 84C, 86C (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 2): HL: 1.07-1.23; HW: 0.98-1.12; SL: 0.47-0.49; EL: 0.12-0.13; WL: 0.86-0.89; PSL: 0.16-0.17; MTL: 0.48-0.5; PNW: 0.49-0.59; PTW: 0.15-0.15; PPW: 0.35-0.43; CI: 91.8-91.0; SI: 48.3-44.2; PSLI: 15.0-13.6; PPI: 42.4-35.6; PNI: 50.3-52.7; MTI: 48.8-44.8. Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, anterior of eyes straight, posterior of eyes convex. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming indistinct transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with sparse, long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately sparse, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes very indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, foveolate with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with indistinct foveolae and sparse, thick, irregular rugae, foveolae fading posteriorly; frons, on the anterior part, with dense, thick and longitudinal rugae and interspaces smooth, posterior part with rugae longitudinal and interspaces foveolate; genae shiny, with dense and thin rugulae; malar area with thick, dense rugo-foveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, closely spaced, moderately high, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth thinner and approximately as high as outer hypostomal teeth, triangular, and with relatively wide base. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and convex, dorsal mesonotum slightly convex, posterior mesonotum steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; humeral area laterally well produced. Surface shiny, with fine and dense foveolae; promesonotal dorsum with additional indistinct, transverse, short rugulae; katepisternum and lower half of lateral surfaces of propodeum smooth. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny and with fine foveolae; peduncle moderately short, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity long and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; in dorsal view sides with short, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity long and erect. Petiole. Shiny and smooth; only basal part of first gastral tergite indistinctly shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Colour. Black; lateral sides of mesosoma and malar area reddish 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 (N = 2): HL: 0.49-0.5; HW: 0.44-0.43; SL: 0.46-0.43; EL: 0.11-0.1; WL: 0.64-0.61; PSL: 0.09-0.08; MTL: 0.37-0.36; PNW: 0.31-0.3; PTW: 0.06-0.06; PPW: 0.14-0.12; CI: 90.2-86.9; SI: 104.1-98.8; PSLI: 18.8-16.0; PPI: 44.8-50.0; PNI: 69.5-70.0; MTI: 83.9-84.4. Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately sparse, moderately long, suberect to erect. Head foveolate; genae with smooth notches. Clypeus with fine and fading foveolae; median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity suberect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, slightly convex, short, with posterior declivity steep; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute apex. Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum and mesosoma smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle very short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae. Petiole. With moderately sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Unicolourous, dark 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; Antsiranana; Parc National de Marojejy, Antranohofa, 26.6 km 31°NNE Andapa, 10.7 km 318°NW Manantenina; -14.44333, 49.74333; alt. 1325 m; 14 Dec 2005; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF13640, CASENT0068047. Paratypes. Madagascar. •2w., 1s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0068048, CASENT0923178, CASENT0872204 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.