Pheidole befotaka

The species was collected between 940-1250 m in elevation, in rainforest and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and dead twigs above ground.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole sikorae species group. Moderately large species. Major: Head in full-face view sub-oval, slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, in lateral view sub-oval, ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, moderately long, erect pilosity; medial part of frons with moderately dense and thick rugae, anteriorly rugae longitudinal and interrupted, posteromedially rugae irregular, interspaces shiny with sparse and indistinct irregular rugulae; lateral sides with irregular, thick, and relatively sparse rugae with indistinctly rugoreticulate interspaces; occipital lobes, and area posterolateral from eyes never smooth; 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 upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; pronotum and mesonotum with fine rugoreticulae and additional transverse to irregular, thick rugae; anepisternum, katepisternum and propodeum with fine rugoreticulae; body orange. Minor: Head foveolate; medial part of frons with smooth notch; vertex and lateral sides of frons with additional, irregular to arcing rugae, area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; promesonotum moderately low and moderately short; promesonotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines small and triangular; mesosoma with very indistinct and sparse rugofoveolae; dorsal pronotum and medial parts of lateral sides of pronotum, katepisternum, and anepisternum smooth; body yellow.

Pheidole befotaka is a member of a group of species characterised by body coloration that is bright, yellow to orange in majors and yellow in minors, head sub-oval, not widening posteriorly with sides not convex or convex indistinctly, and medial part of frons with longitudinal and interrupted rugae anteriorly and distinctly irregular rugae posteriorly. The group includes three taxa: Pheidole vony, P. befotaka, and Pheidole mamiratra. Pheidole befotaka is the only member of the group known from Parc National Befotaka-Midongy in Fianarantsoa and can be easily separated based on orange body of major workers with slightly convex lateral sides of head and lateral sides of frons with distinctly irregular rugae. Minor workers of P. befotaka can be separated from P. vony and P. mamiratra based on presence of additional, irregular to arcing rugae on vertex and lateral sides of frons. Additionally, minors of P. befotaka can be confused with minors of sympatric Pheidole veteratrix from which they differ in reduced sculpture of mesosoma and higher promesonotum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Pheidole befotaka Salata & Fisher, 2020: 54, figs. 27A–F, 63I, 65I (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 2): HL: 1.18, 1.12; HW: 1.18, 1.1; SL: 0.71, 0.73; EL: 0.16, 0.16; WL: 1.06, 1.05; PSL: 0.19, 0.17; MTL: 0.73, 0.72; PNW: 0.51, 0.48; PTW: 0.17, 0.14; PPW: 0.31, 0.31; CI: 100.5, 101.8; SI: 60.6, 66.3; PSLI: 16.0, 15.2; PPI: 56.9, 45.4; PNI: 43.0, 44.0; MTI: 62.2, 65.7.

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex. In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, moderately long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with moderately dense and thick rugae, anteriorly rugae longitudinal and interrupted, posteromedially rugae irregular, interspaces shiny with sparse and indistinct irregular rugulae; lateral sides with irregular, thick, and relatively sparse rugae with indistinctly rugoreticulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with sparse, thick, and irregular rugae; interspaces smooth. Gena with relatively dense and thick longitudinal rugae and smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with thin and dense rugofoveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; 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 upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct 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 indistinct; propodeal spines moderately long, moderately wide, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface shiny; pronotum and mesonotum with fine rugoreticulae and additional transverse to irregular, thick rugae; anepisternum, katepisternum, and propodeum with fine rugoreticulae. Pilosity relatively dense, long, and erect. Petiole. Shiny with fine and dense rugofoveolae; node smooth, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and smooth; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect. Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Orange; mandibles and gaster slightly darker; legs yellowish.

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 = 2): HL: 0.66, 0.64; HW: 0.54, 0.52; SL: 0.76, 0.74; EL: 0.13, 0.13; WL: 0.85, 0.86; PSL: 0.09, 0.1; MTL: 0.61, 0.61; PNW: 0.36, 0.36; PTW: 0.1, 0.08; PPW: 0.17, 0.15; CI: 121.2, 123.2; SI: 140.0, 141.0; PSLI: 13.5, 14.9; PPI: 58.2, 55.0; PNI: 66.4, 69.2; MTI: 112.0, 117.0.

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly convex or straight. Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture foveolate; medial part of frons with smooth notch; vertex and lateral sides of frons with additional, irregular to arcing rugae; area posterolateral from eyes smooth. Clypeus with 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 dense, subdecumbent to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately low and moderately short, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines small and triangular. Sculpture with very indistinct and sparse rugofoveolae; dorsal pronotum and medial parts of lateral sides of pronotum, katepisternum, and anepisternum smooth. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect. Postpetiole. Short, low, and relatively flat; with few short, erect setae. Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity. Colour. Yellow, vertex slightly darker.

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; Fianarantsoa; Parc National Befotaka-Midongy, Papango 28.5km S Midongy-Sud, Mount Papango; -23.84083, 46.9575; alt. 1250 m; 17 Nov 2006; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF14974; CASENT0119590. Paratype. 1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0235125 (CASC).

Etymology
From the type locality.