Pheidole marieannae

The species was collected between 10–550 m in elevation, in rainforest and littoral rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs, rotten sticks on ground, and soil.

Identification
Salata and Fisher (2020) - A member of the Pheidole annemariae species group. Major: Head in full-face view rectangular, slightly longer than wide, anterior of eyes slightly convex, posterior of eyes convex; sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; antennal scrobes present, slightly impressed, and not delimited; scrobe surface foveolate, with distinct, thin, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae; propodeal spines moderately long (PSL: 0.16-0.21 (0.19)); gaster finely shagreened; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed outward and moderately wide base; outer hypostomal teeth smaller and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, triangular with moderately narrow base. Minor:. Head foveolate, genae smooth; propodeal spines long (PSL: 0.11-0.19 (0.13)); promesonotum low, slightly convex, short, with posterior declivity steep; mesonotal spines present but indistinct; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesonotum smooth.

Pheidole marieannae is most similar to Pheidole annemariae. Major workers. It differs from Pheidole annemariae in absence of smooth notch on genae, inner and outer teeth never connected by indistinct concavity, posterior mesonotum with tubercle-like projections and shorter propodeal spines. Minor workers. It differs from P. annemariae in presence of indistinct mesonotal spines and katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesonotum entirely smooth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Major

Nomenclature

 *  marieannae. Pheidole marieannae Salata & Fisher, 2020: 116, figs. 42A–F, 85H, 87L (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Major (N = 10): HL: 1.03-1.14 (1.07); HW: 0.91-1.02 (0.96); SL: 0.41-0.5 (0.44); EL: 0.11-0.13 (0.12); WL: 0.72-0.91 (0.78); PSL: 0.16-0.21 (0.19); MTL: 0.42-0.54 (0.45); PNW: 0.48-0.59 (0.53); PTW: 0.12-0.16 (0.14); PPW: 0.36-0.46 (0.41); CI: 86.2-92.6 (89.2); SI: 42.8-49.7 (46.1); PSLI: 15.1-19.4 (17.3); PPI: 31.5-36.7 (34.7); PNI: 51.2-60.2 (55.7); MTI: 43.9-53.3 (47.2). Head. In full-face view rectangular, slightly longer than wide, anterior of eyes slightly convex, posterior of eyes convex, occipital margins of lobes convex. In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth visible. In lateral view weakly impressed on vertex. Sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes shallow and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface foveolate, with distinct, thin, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces with fine rugulae fading posteriorly; frons with moderately dense, thick, longitudinal, and sometimes interrupted rugae, interspaces finely rugulose, most often rugulae fading on the central part of frons; genae with dense, irregular rugulae, area behind eyes with slightly fading sculpture; malar area with thick, sparse, longitudinal rugae, interspaces rugoreticulate. Centre of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with sparse and longitudinal rugae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect. Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed outward and moderately wide base; outer hypostomal teeth smaller and narrower than inner hypostomal teeth, triangular with moderately narrow base. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum relatively low and arched, dorsal mesonotum finely concave, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines long, triangular, with sharp apex and moderately wide base; humeral area laterally weakly produced. Surface variable; promesonotum finely rugo-foveolate, rugo-foveolae always fading on lateral sides of pronotum and promesonotal dorsum; katepisternum and mesonotum smooth; anepisternum rugulae; propodeum rugoreticulate, its dorsoventral surface with fading sculpture. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, erect. Petiole. Shiny; peduncle relatively short, foveolate, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node relatively high, moderately thick, with rounded apex, in rear view node indistinctly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Postpetiole. Shiny and shagreened; in dorsal view sides with moderately long, wide, acute, and triangular projections; pilosity moderately sparse and erect. Petiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect. Colour. Brown to dark brown; legs yellowish 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 = 10): HL: 0.41-0.49 (0.46); HW: 0.39-0.46 (0.42); SL: 0.39-0.47 (0.43); EL: 0.09-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.47-0.58 (0.54); PSL: 0.11-0.19 (0.13); MTL: 0.28-0.37 (0.32); PNW: 0.25-0.31 (0.29); PTW: 0.06-0.07 (0.06); PPW: 0.1-0.13 (0.11); CI: 87.6-95.1 (92.2); SI: 97.1-114.1 (101.8); PSLI: 24.6-38.4 (28.3); PPI: 50.0-64.2 (56.2); PNI: 62.6-73.7 (67.6); MTI: 71.4-83.7 (76.4). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct. Pilosity moderately dense, short, suberect. Head foveolate; genae smooth. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the posterior head margin; pilosity suberect to erect. Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, slightly convex, short, with posterior declivity steep; mesonotal spines present but indistinct; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove indistinct; propodeal spines long, triangular, with acute apex and narrow base. Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum, anepisternum, and mesonotum smooth. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect. Petiole. Peduncle moderately 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 sparse and erect pilosity. Colour. 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; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, near Manantenina River; -14.43677, 49.77541; alt. 475 m; 5 Feb 2018; Fisher et al. leg.; BLF40635, CASENT0923219. Paratypes. Madagascar. •2w., 1q.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0808177, CASENT0808178, CASENT0872220 (CASC).

Etymology
Conversion of the name of the most similar species, Pheidole annemariae.