Pheidole typhlos

The species was collected at elevation between 520–980 m, in rainforest, in montane forest. Nesting preferences unknown.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - Major: Eyes small and reduced; body yellow; head rectangular, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex; sides of the head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; occipital lobes, genae, and posterior part of frons shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct, very sparse, longitudinal rugulae; anterior part of frons and malar area shiny, with thick, very sparse, short, and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute top; pronotum smooth and shiny, sometimes on lateral sides with indistinct and sparse rugulae; mesonotum and propodeum shiny, with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation; katepisternum indistinctly foveolate; anepisternum with thick rugoreticulation; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, narrow, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular, and with rounded tops directed outward; outer hypostomal teeth are slightly lower than inner hypostomal teeth. Minor:. Eyes small and reduced; body yellow; head and mesosoma shiny and smooth, lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; propodeal spines short and triangular.

This species is most similar to Pheidole parviocula. Major workers. Pheidole typhlos can be distinguished from P. parviocula by sparse and short pilosity on sides of the head, presence of distinct, triangular inner hypostomal teeth and presence of short, triangular propodeal spines. Minor workers. Pheidole typhlos can be distinguished from P. parviocula by box-like promesonotum, absence of promesonotal groove and presence of short and triangular propodeal spines.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  typhlos. Pheidole typhlos Salata & Fisher, 2020: 41, figs. 20A–F, 85X, 88H (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 8): HL: 1.2-1.34 (1.28); HW: 0.96-1.07 (1.01); SL: 0.49-0.52 (0.5); EL: 0.08-0.12 (0.1); WL: 0.79-0.91 (0.84); PSL: 0.15-0.19 (0.16); MTL: 0.48-0.52 (0.51); PNW: 0.48-0.55 (0.51); PTW: 0.14-0.16 (0.15); PPW: 0.37-0.43 (0.4); CI: 75.1-82.0 (79.5); SI: 48.0-52.3 (49.8); PSLI: 11.9-14.3 (12.7); PPI: 36.3-39.9 (37.9); PNI: 47.4-55.3 (50.6); MTI: 46.9-52.9 (49.8). Head. In full-face view elongate, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes slightly convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces relatively flat; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Antennal scrobes absent. Sides of the head with sparse, short, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Occipital lobes, genae, and posterior part of frons shiny and smooth, sometimes with indistinct, very sparse, longitudinal rugulae; anterior part of frons and malar area shiny, with thick, very sparse, short, and interrupted rugae, interspaces smooth. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with a few indistinct, longitudinal rugae on the lateral sides; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, narrow, triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth distinct, triangular, and with rounded tops directed outward; outer hypostomal teeth are slightly lower than inner hypostomal teeth. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum convex, with indistinct tubercle-like projection; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or very indistinct; propodeal spines short, triangular, with acute top; humeral area with wide and flat tubercles. Pronotum smooth and shiny, sometimes on lateral sides with indistinct and sparse rugulae; mesonotum and propodeum shiny, with fine, sparse to moderately sparse rugoreticulation; katepisternum indistinctly foveolate; anepisternum with thick rugoreticulation. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny; peduncle finely foveolate, without horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, moderately high, with convex apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity moderately dense and erect. Postpetiole. Finely foveolate and shiny; in dorsal view sides with moderately long, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity moderately long, moderately dense, and erect. Gaster. Smooth and shiny; pilosity dense, short, and erect. Colour. Yellow, malar area and lower part of frons dark yellow to bright brown.

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: 0.55; HW: 0.46; SL: 0.45; EL: 0.05; WL: 0.62; PSL: 0.09; MTL: 0.35; PNW: 0.32; PTW: 0.09; PPW: 0.14; CI: 83.9; SI: 97.4; PSLI: 16.4; PPI: 61.2; PNI: 69.8; MTI: 76.7. Head. In full-face view rectangular, posterior and anterior of eyes slightly convex, occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent. Pilosity moderately dense, short, subdecumbent to suberect. Whole head shiny and smooth, only lateral sides of frons with short, indistinct, longitudinal rugulae; antennal sockets with sparse carinae curved outward. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching posterior head margin; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum box-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines short and triangular, apex acute. Sculpture smooth and shiny, sometimes lateral sides with indistinct, irregular, and sparse rugae. Pilosity moderately sparse, short, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle short with ventral face slightly convex; node globular; with few short, erect setae. Postpetiole. Short, low, and convex; with few short, erect setae. Gaster. Pilosity moderately dense, erect, and short. 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; Antsiranana; Galoko chain, Mont Galoko; -13.58487, 48.71818; alt. 520 m; 19 Feb 2013; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF30851, CASENT0302953. Paratype. Madagascar. 1 w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923217 (CASC).

Etymology
Greek for blind, in reference to the reduced eyes.