Pheidole sofia

The species was collected between 390-1657 m in elevation, in rainforest, montane rainforest, montane ravine forest, and in urban areas. Nests were located in rotten logs, rotten sticks on the ground, and in soil.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole sikorae species group. Moderately large species. Major: Head in full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, slightly narrowing posteriorly, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, moderately sparse, longitudinal and interrupted rugae, posteromedial part with rugae more irregular and slightly directed outward, interspaces smooth to finely foveolate; anterolateral sides with thick, moderately dense, and longitudinally irregular rugae, posterolateral sides with rugae more irregular, interspaces with dense and distinct foveolae; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed slightly inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, slightly wider than and approximately the same height as inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed slightly outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma with fine rugofoveolae; pronotal dorsum with reduced sculpture and additional thin, interrupted, and transverse rugae; lateral sides of pronotum and katepisternum with smooth notches; gaster smooth; body ferruginous. Minor: Head sculpture variable; predominantly smooth or foveolae sparse and fading on medial frons and area posterolateral from eyes; vertex with sparse and short rugulae; frons with very sparse, short, and irregular rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture or predominantly smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately high and short, arched; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines small and triangular; mesosoma with sparse rugofoveolae; promesonotal dorsum and katepisternum with smooth notches or smooth; pronotum with additional sparse, short, and transverse rugulae; body brown.

Pheidole sofia is a widespread species known from Ambositra in Fianarantsoa north to Joffreville in Antsiranana. The species is most similar to parapatric Pheidole manantenina, known from Parc National de Marojejy in Antsiranana. Major workers of P. sofia differ from P. manantenina in medial part of frons with interspaces finely foveolate, lateral sides of frons with more longitudinally irregular rugae, body ferruginous, and promesonotum never with reduced sculpture; minor workers can be separated based on more distinct sculpture on head, and mesosoma with sparse rugofoveolae, promesonotal dorsum and katepisternum with smooth notches or smooth, and presence of additional sparse, short, and transverse rugulae on pronotum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole sofia Salata & Fisher, 2020: 143, figs. 54A–F, 64L, 67D (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 0.96-1.23 (1.1); HW: 0.97-1.16 (1.06); SL: 0.55-0.76 (0.66); EL: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); WL: 0.84-1.04 (0.95); PSL: 0.15-0.19 (0.17); MTL: 0.5-0.69 (0.6); PNW: 0.42-0.57 (0.48); PTW: 0.12-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.28-0.37 (0.31); CI: 99.3-106.0 (103.7); SI: 54.4-77.2 (63.0); PSLI: 14.3-17.3 (15.4); PPI: 43.5-53.7 (48.5); PNI: 42.9-49.2 (45.2); MTI: 50.7-67.1 (57.0).

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, slightly narrowing posteriorly. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, moderately long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, moderately sparse, longitudinal, and interrupted rugae, posteromedial part with rugae more irregular and slightly directed outward, interspaces smooth to finely foveolate; anterolateral sides with thick moderately dense and longitudinally irregular rugae, posterolateral sides with rugae more irregular, interspaces with dense and distinct foveolae. Occipital lobes with thick, irregular rugae and rugofoveolate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes rugoreticulate to rugofoveolate, sometimes with additional longitudinal to irregular, thick rugae. Gena with relatively dense and thick, longitudinal rugae and rugoreticulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed slightly inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, slightly wider than and approximately the same height as inner hypostomal teeth, apex directed slightly outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately short, with moderately wide base and acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny with fine rugofoveolae; pronotal dorsum with reduced sculpture and additional thin, interrupted, and transverse rugae; lateral sides of pronotum and katepisternum with smooth notches. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine foveolae; node smooth to finely foveolate, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally straight to slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and foveolate; dorsum with reduced sculpture and smooth notch; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity dense, long, and erect. Colour. Ferruginous; legs, gaster, and antennae bright brown.

The following characters are found in most Pheidole sikorae species-group majors in Madagascar (Salata and Fisher 2020b). These characters also occur in , except for any differences noted in the paragraph above. Dorsal face of head in lateral view not depressed posteriorly; 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 absent; promesonotum strongly convex, well above the level of propodeum; petiolar peduncle with small horizontal lobes on its basal part; postpetiole short with slightly convex dorsum; petiolar peduncle without horizontal lobes on its basal part; body unicolourous.

Minor (N = 10): HL: 0.46-0.62 (0.56); HW: 0.42-0.57 (0.49); SL: 0.51-0.67 (0.61); EL: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); WL: 0.58-0.78 (0.69); PSL: 0.06-0.11 (0.09); MTL: 0.36-0.53 (0.46); PNW: 0.28-0.39 (0.33); PTW: 0.08-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.11-0.17 (0.14); CI: 106.0-118.7 (123.4); SI: 112.1-139.2 (123.4); PSLI: 11.3-18.8 (16.2); PPI: 50.6-74.2 (60.6); PNI: 62.8-70.3 (67.6); MTI: 77.0-101.0 (92.3).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly concave or straight. Pilosity relatively dense, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture shiny and variable; predominantly smooth or foveolate with foveolae sparse and fading on medial frons and area posterolateral from eyes; vertex with sparse and short rugulae; frons with very sparse, short, and irregular rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture or predominantly smooth; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and smooth to indistinctly foveolate interspaces. Clypeus with 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 dense, subdecumbent to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately high and short, arched; promesonotal groove indistinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular. Sculpture shiny with sparse rugofoveolae; promesonotal dorsum and katepisternum with smooth notches or smooth; pronotum with additional sparse, short, and transverse rugulae. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Brown, legs and antenna yellowish brown.

The following characters are found in most Pheidole sikorae species-group minors in Madagascar (Salata and Fisher 2020b). These characters also occur in , except for any differences noted in the paragraph above. Antennal sockets shallow; frontal lobes absent; occipital carina 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, with node moderately low, triangular, and small, with few short, erect setae; petiolar peduncle with ventral face slightly convex; postpetiole smooth, short, low, and slightly convex, with few short, erect setae; gaster smooth and shiny; body unicolourous.

Type Material
Holotype. Madagascar. 1 major worker; Mahajanga; Region Sofia, Bemanevika; -14.32826, 48.58406; alt. 1657 m; 17 Jan 2015; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF35790; CASENT0705626. Paratype. 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0923280 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.