skip to main content

Explore Research Products in the NSF-PAR

  • NSF Public Access
  • Search Results

  • The ant genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar—taxonomic revision of the bessonii species-group
Title: The ant genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar—taxonomic revision of the bessonii species-group
The present study represents a taxonomic revision of the P. bessonii species-group from Madagascar. Eighteen members of this group are recognized and described, and an illustrated identification key to this group is also presented. One name is raised to species level: P. decollata Forel, 1892 stat. nov. We also redescribe worker castes and designate lectotypes for P. bessonii Forel, 1891, P. decollata Forel, 1892, P. grallatrix Emery, 1899, P. madecassa Forel, 1892, and P. oswaldi 1891. The following 13 new species are described: Pheidole antsahabe sp. nov., Pheidole atsirakambiaty sp. nov., Pheidole clara sp. nov., Pheidole flammea sp. nov., Pheidole flavodepressa sp. nov., Pheidole mantadioflava sp. nov., Pheidole maro sp. nov., Pheidole ovalinoda sp. nov., Pheidole similis sp. nov., Pheidole tenebrovulgaris sp. nov., Pheidole uranus sp. nov., Pheidole voreios sp. nov., Pheidole zirafy sp. nov.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1120867
NSF-PAR ID:
10354921
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Zootaxa
Volume:
4843
Issue:
1
ISSN:
1175-5326
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1 to 64
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. ; ( , PeerJ)
    Background The Malagasy Region, one of the top megadiversity regions, hosts one of the highest numbers of endemic and threatened organisms on earth. One of the most spectacular examples of ant radiation on the island has occurred in the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole . To this date, there are 135 described Madagascan Pheidole divided into 16 species-groups, and 97% of Malagasy species are endemic to the island. This study is a taxonomic revision of the Pheidole megacephala group, one of only two species-groups comprising a combination of native, endemic taxa and widely distributed introduced species. Methods The diversity of the Malagasy members of the megacephala group was assessed via application of qualitative morphological and DNA sequence data. Qualitative, external morphological characteristics ( e.g., head shape, gaster sculpture, body colouration) were evaluated in order to create a priori grouping hypotheses, and confirm and improve species delimitation. Mitochondrial DNA sequences from cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene fragments were analyzed to test the putative species previously delimited by morphological analyses. Results We recognize three species belonging to the megacephala group: P. megacephala (Fabricius, 1793), P. megatron Fischer & Fisher, 2013 and P. spinosa Forel, 1891 stat. nov. Pheidole spinosa is redescribed and elevated to the species level. The following names are recognized as junior synonyms of P. spinosa : P. megacephala scabrior Forel, 1891 syn. nov. , P. picata Forel, 1891 syn. nov. , P. picata gietleni Forel, 1905 syn. nov. , P. picata bernhardae Emery, 1915 syn. nov. , and P. decepticon Fischer & Fisher, 2013 syn. nov. The results are supplemented with an identification key to species for major workers of the megacephala group, high-resolution images for major and minor workers, and comments on the distribution and biology of all Malagasy members of the group. Our study revealed that Pheidole megacephala , a species listed among the 100 worst invasive species worldwide, occurs in both natural and disturbed sites in the Malagasy region. The two remaining members of the megacephala group, most likely endemic to this region, are also present in anthropogenic habitats and often co-occur with P. megacephala . It appears that the Malagasy members of the group are generalists and dominant in anthropogenic habitats. Additionally, we documented the presence of supermajors in colonies of P. spinosa —a phenomenon previously not known for this group. 
    more » « less
  2. ( , Zootaxa)
    Five new species of the endemic Australian leafhopper genus Mayawa Fletcher, 2000 (M. affinifacialis sp. nov., M. bimaculata sp. nov., M. brevicephala sp. nov., M. kathyae sp. nov. and M. vestigia sp. nov.) are described and illustrated and a revised key to species is provided. One of the new species tested positive for a previously unknown strain of phytoplasma belonging to the 16SrV group. The related paralimnine genus Austroauridius gen. nov. based on A. iwaii sp. nov. from Queensland is also described and illustrated and a key to known genera of Australian Paralimnini is provided. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ( , Zootaxa)
    In this study, we revise two groups of cryptic leaf litter ants, the Strumigenys nitens and Strumigenys simulans species groups. These two groups are restricted to the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. We redefine the species groups, provide a key for the five species in the S. nitens group, and differentiate the two species in the S. simulans group. Four new species are described: Strumigenys caiman sp. nov., S. economoi sp. nov., S. hubbewatyorum sp. nov., and S. zemi sp. nov. We review and provide a key for the Strumigenys fauna of Hispaniola, which comprises the two endemic species S. economoi and S. zemi, six more broadly distributed Neotropical species, and three pan-tropical “tramp” species. 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ( , PeerJ)
    null (Ed.)
    Background Madagascar is famous for its extremely rich biodiversity; the island harbors predominantly endemic and threatened communities meriting special attention from biodiversity scientists. Continuing ongoing efforts to inventory the Malagasy ant fauna, we revise the species currently placed in the myrmicine genus Aphaenogaster Mayr. One species described from Madagascar, Aphaenogaster friederichsi Forel, is synonymized with the Palearctic A. subterranea Latreille syn. nov. This species is considered neither native to Madagascar nor established in the region. This revision focuses on the balance of species in the A. swammerdami group which are all endemic to Madagascar. Methods The diversity of the Malagasy Aphaenogaster fauna was assessed via application of multiple lines of evidence involving quantitative morphometric, qualitative morphological, and DNA sequence data. (1) Morphometric investigation was based on hypothesis-free Nest Centroid clustering (NC-clustering) combined with PArtitioning based on Recursive Thresholding (PART) to estimate the number of morphological clusters and determine the most probable boundaries between them. This protocol provides a repeatable and testable approach to find patterns in continuous morphometric data. Species boundaries and the reliability of morphological clusters recognized by these exploratory analyses were tested via confirmatory Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). (2) Qualitative, external morphological characteristics (e.g., shape, coloration patterns, setae number) were subjectively evaluated in order to create a priori grouping hypotheses, and confirm and improve species delimitation. (3) Species delimitation analyses based on mitochondrial DNA sequences from cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene fragments were carried out to test the putative species previously delimited by morphological and morphometric analyses. Results Five species can be inferred based on the integrated evaluation of multiple lines of evidence; of these, three are new to science: Aphaenogaster bressleri sp. n ., A. gonacantha (Emery, 1899), A. makay sp. n. , A. sahafina sp. n. , and A. swammerdami Forel, 1886. In addition, three new synonymies were found for A. swammerdami Forel, 1886 ( A. swammerdami clara Santschi, 1915 syn. n. , A. swammerdami curta Forel, 1891 syn. n. and A. swammerdami spinipes Santschi, 1911 syn. n. ). Descriptions and redefinitions for each taxon and an identification key for their worker castes using qualitative traits and morphometric data are given. Geographic maps depicting species distributions and biological information regarding nesting habits for the species are also provided. 
    more » « less
  5. ; ( , Zootaxa)
    null (Ed.)
    Three new Neotropical athysanine (Deltocephalinae) leafhopper genera, Spaltumtettix Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich gen. nov., Pseudonapo Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich gen. nov., and Goiattus Pinedo-Escatel gen. nov., and 4 new species, S. coloradus Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Peru), P. waorani Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Ecuador), P. huanucensis Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Peru), and G. reyesi Pinedo-Escatel sp. nov. (Brazil), are described and illustrated. In addition, the genera Zabrosa Oman, Napo Linnavuori & DeLong, Pseudalaca Linnavuori and Brazosa Oman are revised and redescribed. Six new species are described in Brazosa: B. campinacu Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Brazil), B. espatula Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Brazil), B. encrustada Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Brazil), B. mildredireanae Pinedo-Escatel sp. nov. (Peru), B. negra Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Peru and Bolivia) and B. beni Pinedo-Escatel & Dietrich sp. nov. (Bolivia). Brazosa caesarea Linnavuori & Heller comb. nov. is transferred to Spaltumtettix. The South American species Z. aquareza Linnavuori & DeLong syn. nov. is proposed as junior synonym of Z. unicampi Menezes. Keys to species of each genus are provided. Unusual aspects of the morphology of these genera are discussed and a comparative table is provided. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email