The ant genus Pheidole is the most speciose within the Formicidae family. It comprises 1151 described species known from all biogeographic regions but Antarctic [1]. Studies on its diversity in the Malagasy region had been neglected for decades until a taxonomic revision of species known from Comoros, Juan de Nova Island, Mauritius, Mayotte, Re ´union, and Seychelles [2], followed later by papers focused exclusively on the Madagascan fauna [3][4][5]. Recent data confirms estimates stated by Fisher & Peeters [6] and reveals exceptional, on the global scale, level of endemism of Malagasy Pheidole. So far, there are 130 Pheidole species from this region, and as much as 97% of them are considered endemic. The number, however, is still not complete, and we estimate that there are approximately 20 taxa awaiting descriptions in the forthcoming revisions.
The Malagasy species of Pheidole have conspicuously dimorphic worker caste and are characterized by the combination of the following characters [7]: 12-segmented antennae with a strongly defined, 3 segmented club; major worker with disproportionately enlarged head and at least one set of hypostomal teeth on posterior margin of buccal cavity; large clypeus broadly inserted posteriorly between the frontal lobes; triangular mandible, large and essentially edentate apart from the near basal tooth and the apical and sub-apical teeth in majors, more delicate and serially dentate in minors; palp formula 3,2, or 2,2; frontal carinae short in all minors and most majors, in majors of some species the carinae extend almost to the posterior margin of the head; antennal scrobe absent in minors but variably developed in majors; in majors of some species distinct scrobe are present that extend above the eyes; eyes present, located at most often at the midlength of the head capsule in minors, in majors of some species located below the midlength of the head capsule; pronotum and anterior mesonotum swollen and convex in profile, usually dome-like; in profile the propodeal dorsum on a much lower level than the top of the convex promesonotum; promesonotal suture represented across the dorsum in some species by a weak impression, or by a narrow line, in others vestigial or entirely absent; propodeum unarmed to bispinose; propodeal spiracle large, its orifice circular or nearly so, located at or slightly behind the midlength of the sclerite; abdominal segment 2 (petiole) with a distinct anterior peduncle; abdominal tergite 4 (first gastral) broadly overlaps the sternite on the ventral gaster; main pilosity of dorsal head and body simple, may be sparse.
Taxonomic knowledge on Madagascan Pheidole has greatly improved in recent times, and there are only three species-groups pending revisions: lucida, megacephala, and fervens. While the lucida species-group appears to consist of only native species, the remaining two groups comprise a combination of native, endemic taxa and widely distributed invasive species. The megacephala species-group is most likely of Afrotropical origin but displays a high diversity in the Malagasy [8]. Its representative: Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), is recognized as one of the most destructive, cosmopolitan pest listed among 100 worst invasive species [9]. The fervens species-group is native to Indoaustralia and consist of several species [8,10], of which two established colonies beyond their native range: Pheidole fervens Smith and Pheidole indica Mayr [8]. Both species probably negatively impact native arthropods [8] and have confirmed presence in the Malagasy [2]. So far, the only verified records of P. fervens come from Mauritius [2], but we can't exclude its possible presence in urban and agricultural parts of Madagascar. While P. indica is a common pest in anthropogenic sites across the whole Malagasy, including Madagascar. Our study revealed that the island also hosts 5 additional, undescribed members of the fervens species-group. All the new species have distribution limited to Madagascar and are considered as endemic for this island. Below, we present a taxonomic revision of the fervens species-group from Madagascar and discuss general patterns of the Pheidole diversity on the island.
Ant samples used in this study comply with the regulations for export and exchange of research samples outlined in the Convention of Biology Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. For fieldwork conducted in Madagascar, permits to research, collect and export ants were obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Forest as part of an ongoing collaboration between the California Academy of The present study was conducted on 336 specimens belonging to 175 samples collected in Madagascar and deposited in the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, U.S.A. All specimen data are listed in S2 Table and additionally are freely accessible on AntWeb (http://www.antweb.org). Each specimen used in this study can be traced by a unique specimen identifier affixed to the pin (e.g. CASENT0236484).
Repositories. Collections are referred to by the following acronyms: CASC-California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA; MHNG-Muse ´um d'Historie Naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland; PBZT-Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
All observations and measurements were taken using a pin-holding stage, permitting rotations around the X, Y, and Z axes at magnifications from 32× to 100× with a Leica MZ12.5 microscope and an orthogonal crosshair micrometre, at an accuracy of 0.01 mm to approximately 0.005 mm. All measurements are presented in mm units as minimum and maximum values, with the arithmetic mean in parentheses. Photographs were taken using a JVC KY-75 or Leica DFC450 digital camera with a Leica Z16 APO microscope and Leica Application Suite software (v3.8). Unless stated otherwise, photographs were taken by Michele Esposito, and material was collected by B. L. Fisher and his collaborators and is stored in CASC. Images of specimens and data of all pinned specimens examined in the present contribution are available online on AntWeb (www.AntWeb.org) and accessible using the unique CASENT identifying specimen code. Measurements and indices are in line with Salata and Fisher [3][4][5] and are mostly the same as in Longino [11,12] and several other revisions [2,[13][14][15]. The general morphological terminology follows Wilson [16] and Longino [11,12]. The surface sculpturing glossary follows Harris [17].
Our recognition of species follows the biological species concept and species boundaries are based on comparative morphology and known geographic distributions of investigated taxa. Where sympatric populations exhibit consistently different phenotypes, they are considered different species. Species described based on the single nest sample exhibit distinct and unique set of morphological features allowing their separation from other Madagascan Pheidole species.
Pilosity inclination degree follows that used in Wilson [18]. Appressed (0-5˚) hairs run parallel or nearly parallel to the body surface. Decumbent hairs stand 10-40˚, subdecumbent hair stand ~45˚from the surface˚, suberect hairs bend about 10˚-20˚from vertical, and erect hairs stand vertical or nearly vertical.
EL-eye length; measured along the maximum vertical diameter of the eye; HL-maximum distance from the midpoint of the anterior clypeal margin to the midpoint of the posterior margin of the head, measured in full-face view; in majors from midpoint of tangent between anteriormost position of clypeus to midpoint of tangent between posteriormost projection of the vertex; HW-head width; measured in full-face view, at widest point of the head, directly above the eyes; MTL-metatibia length; straight line length of the metatibia measured from the constriction immediately before its proximal insertion to its distalmost point, excluding the bristles or spines; PNW-pronotum width; maximum width of promesonotum measured in dorsal view; PPW-postpetiole width; maximum width of postpetiole in dorsal view; PSL-propodeal spine length; measured from the centre of the propodeal spiracle to the tip of the propodeal spine in lateral view;
The electronic edition of this article conforms to the requirements of the amended International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and hence the new names contained herein are available under that Code from the electronic edition of this article. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank LSIDs (Life Science Identifiers) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix "http://zoobank.org/". The LSID for this publication is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 47A76C39-8950-4785-86E5-EB058E262702. The electronic edition of this work was published in a journal with an ISSN, and has been archived and is available from the following digital repositories: PubMed Central, LOCKSS.
Repetitive characters occurring in the majority of species have been omitted. Unless stated otherwise, the following descriptions apply to all species treated here: Major worker. Dorsal face of the head in lateral view not depressed posteriorly; frontal lobe absent; head in full-face view with distinct median concavity; antenna 12-segmented, with a 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; the outer surface of mandible mostly smooth and shining, sometimes with weak and sparse puncta; promesonotum strongly convex, well above the level of propodeum; promesonotum short, angular, and low; posterior mesonotum steep; petiolar peduncle long, with small horizontal lobe on its basal part; petiolar node low, triangular, with rounded and thin top, pilosity sparse and erect; postpetiole short with slightly convex dorsum, pilosity long, sparse, and erect.
Minor worker. Antennal socket shallow and surrounded by a few indistinct, thin and curved outward rugae; frontal lobe absent; head in full-face view oval; posterior and anterior of eyes convex; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length, pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect; antenna 12-segmented, with a 3-segmented club; clypeus smooth and shiny, its anterior margin regularly convex; clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent, two lateral longitudinal carinae absent; humeral tubercle not developed into projection; promesonotum well above the level of propodeum; posterior mesonotum steep; petiolar peduncle with ventral face slightly convex, node low, triangular, and small, with few short, erect setae; postpetiole with few short, erect setae; gaster smooth and shiny.
base; head in full-face view sub-rectangular with lateral margins from relatively straight to slightly convex, not or slightly widening posteriorly; head in lateral view sub-oval with distinctly convex margins; occipital lobe most often entirely sculptured (except P. ampangabe); frons costulate to rugocostulate; antennal scrobe distinct but shallow, always sculptured with at least fine rugae; costulae or rugocostulae on head thick to thin; both inner and outer hypostomal teeth present (Fig 3 ); promesonotum short, angular and low; postpetiole in dorsal view with lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; gaster at least partially shagreened (except P. mena, P. indica, and P. fervens); mesonotal process most often distinct. Minor worker. Postpetiole in profile without conspicuous ventral convexity; antennal socket shallow; frontal lobe absent or indistinct; propodeal spine indistinct to moderate; promesonotum in lateral view never box-like; anterior mesonotum slightly to distinctly concave; posterior mesonotum steep or smoothly declining towards propodeum; posterior region of head never forming neck; promesonotum low and short, arched; head and mesosoma with poorly developed sculpture.
Despite the absence of confirmed records of P. fervens from Madagascar we decided to include this species in the key. So far, the only verified records from the Malagasy region come from Mauritius [2], but we can't exclude its possible presence in strongly disturbed by human activity parts of the island. Geographic range. Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Ampangabe IV Non-Protected Area.
Diagnosis. Major worker. Head, in full-face view sub-rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly. Margins of the head with dense, short and suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe densely rugocostulate; interspaces between rugocostulae distinctly punctate. Frons with thick and sparse costulae; interspaces between costulae mostly smooth or indistinctly punctate. Sides posterolateral from eyes distinctly shagreened and smooth apically. Occipital lobe smooth. Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, small, closely spaced, bulge-like, with rounded top; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, distinctly bigger and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, top directed upward; median tooth present, indistinct. Mesosoma with dense rugoreticulae; promesonotal dorsum with sparser sculpture and partially smooth. Gaster shagreened. Body brown, legs and scape yellowish brown. Minor worker. Head shiny and with indistinct and sparse puncta; sides posterolateral from eyes smooth. Mesosoma shiny; promesonotum and anepisternum with indistinct and sparse puncta; lateral sides of pronotum partially smooth; katepisternum and propodeum with more distinct but still sparse puncta. Head and mesosoma brown; gaster, antennae, and legs yellowish-brown.
Description. Major worker. Measurements (n = 1): HL: 1.76; HW: 1.78; SL: 0.91; EL: 0.2; WL: 1.41; PSL: 0.22; MTL: 0.98; PNW: 0.71; PTW: 0.25; PPW: 0.69; CI: 98.9; SI: 50.9; PSLI: 12.3; PPI: 36.0; PNI: 39.6; MTI: 55.2.
Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior margins slightly convex (Fig 6B). In lateral view sub-oval. Inner hypostomal tooth visible. Margins of the head with dense, short and suberect to erect pilosity; head dorsum with dense, long and decumbent to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe distinct but shallow; densely rugocostulae; interspaces between rugocostulae distinctly punctate. Frons with thick and sparse costulae; interspaces between costulae mostly smooth indistinctly punctate. Sides posterolateral from eyes distinctly shagreened and smooth apically. Occipital lobe smooth. Gena with sparse and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly punctate. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral margin with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, wide, and deep; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of the head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig 6B and6D). Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, small, closely spaced, bulge-like, with rounded top; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, distinctly bigger and wider than inner hypostomal teeth, top directed upward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely and6E). Colour. Head and mesosoma brown; gaster, antennae, and legs yellowish brown (Fig 6C and6E).
Biology. The species was collected at 1417 m in elevation, in savannah woodland. The nest was located under a rotten log.
Comments. Pheidole ampangabe is probably endemic to savannah woodlands of Ampangabe and its distribution doesn't overlap with other members of the group. Majors of P. ampangabe can be easily separated from other species based on smooth occipital lobe and entirely punctate gaster. Minors, with indistinctly punctate head sculpture, are most similar to P. mamirapiratra but they differ in brown body coloration and partially smooth promesonotum. In contrast, minors of P. mamirapiratra have entirely sculptured promesonotum and yellow to yellowish brown body.
Etymology. After the locus typicus. Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior margins convex (Fig 7B). In lateral view sub-oval. Inner hypostomal tooth visible. Margins of the head with dense, long and appressed to subdecumbent pilosity; head dorsum with dense, long and decumbent to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe distinct but shallow; sparsely costulate; interspaces between costulae smooth to indistinctly rugulate. Frons with thick and sparse costulae; interspaces between costulae mostly smooth or indistinctly rugulate. Sides posterolateral from eyes smooth. Occipital lobe with sparse and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae mostly smooth or indistinctly rugulate. Gena with dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae smooth to indistinctly rugulate. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny; lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, wide, and deep; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of the head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig 7B and7D). Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, moderate and triangular, with the rounded top directed outward; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, distinctly lower than inner hypostomal teeth, top directed upward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; median tooth absent (Fig 2B). Mesosoma. In lateral view, mesonotal process distinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spine moderate, with a wide base and acute top; humeral tubercle laterally weakly produced (Fig 7D). Surface shiny; densely rugoreticulate; promesonotal dorsum with sparser sculpture but never smooth. Pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig 7D and7F). Petiole. Shiny with fine and dense puncta; node smooth to finely punctate; in rear view dorsoventrally straight to slightly concave (Fig 7D and7F). Postpetiole. Shiny and finely punctate; dorsum with reduced sculpture and sometimes smooth notch; in dorsal view oval; lateral margins medially with two short and dentate projections (Fig 7D and7F). Gaster. Shiny; with finely shagreened base of first gastral tergite; pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig 7D and7F). Colour. Head and anterior mesosoma brown to reddish-brown; posterior mesosoma and legs yellowish brown; gaster brown (Fig 7D and7F).
Description. Minor worker. Measurements (n = 10): HL: 0.57-0.73 (0.66); HW: 0.5-0.67 (0.59); SL: 0.71-0.82 (0.76); EL: 0.12-0.15 (0.13); WL: 0.76-0.98 (0.86); PSL: 0.04-0.11 (0.08); MTL: 0.57-0.7 (0.63); PNW: 0.34-0.44 (0.39); PTW: 0.08-0.12 (0.1); PPW: 0.15-0.21 (0.18); CI: 106.9-115.5 (111.4); SI: 117.6-142.5 (128.9); PSLI: 6.8-15.3 (11.6) and7E). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig 7C and7E). Colour. Head and gaster brown; mesosoma reddish to yellowish-brown; legs yellowish-brown (Fig 7C and7E).
Biology. The species was collected between 10-1250 m in elevation, in the rainforest, montane rainforest, tropical forest, dwarf littoral forest, montane forest, tropical dry forest and grassland. Nests were located in rotten logs, under stones and dead twigs above ground. Worker were collected from sifted litter.
Comments. Pheidole arivo is one of the most common members of the fervens group distributed in Antsiranana and the eastern part of the island. Its distribution overlaps with P. mena, P. mamirapiratra, and P. indica. Majors of P. arivo can be easily separated based on smooth sides posterolateral from eyes and distinct mesonotal process. Minors can be separated from P. mena based on the presence of puncta on mesosoma (minors of P. mena have mesosoma rugulate), and from P. mamirapiratra, and P. indica based on steep posterior mesonotum and entirely or mostly smooth katepisternum. In contrast, minors of P. mamirapiratra and P. indica have less steep posterior mesonotum and sculptured katepisternum.
Etymology. Malagasy for "thousand". In reference to the wide distribution of the species. Diagnosis. Major worker. Head, in full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior margins convex. Margins of the head with dense, long and suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe costulate to rugocostulate; interspaces between costulae and rugocostulae distinctly rugopunctate. Frons with thick and dense costulae; interspaces between costulae indistinctly rugulate. Sides posterolateral from eyes and occipital lobe with dense and thick rugae; interspaces between rugae mostly smooth or indistinctly rugulate. Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, small, triangular, with rounded top directed inward; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, distinctly wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, top directed upward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by concavity; median tooth absent. Mesosoma with sparse and thin rugulae; interspaces between rugulae smooth to indistinctly rugopunctate; promesonotal dorsum with sparser sculpture but never smooth. Gaster with a finely shagreened base of first gastral tergite. Body reddish-brown; legs yellowish-brown to brown. Minor worker. Head shiny and sparsely punctate; sides posterolateral from eyes entirely to mostly smooth. Mesosoma sparsely punctate; puncta sometimes weaker or absent on promesonotal dorsum, katepisternum and lateral sides of propodeum. Body brown; legs and antenna yellowish. Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior margins convex (Fig 8B). In lateral view sub-oval. Inner hypostomal tooth visible. Margins of the head with dense, long and suberect to erect pilosity; head dorsum with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe distinct but shallow; costulate to rugocostulate; interspaces between costulae and rugocostulae distinctly rugopunctate. Frons with thick and dense costulae; interspaces between costulae indistinctly rugulate. Sides posterolateral from eyes and occipital lobe with thick rugae; interspaces between rugae mostly smooth or indistinctly rugulate. Gena with sparse and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae smooth to indistinctly rugulate. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral margins with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, wide, and deep; 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 (Fig 8B and8D). Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, small, triangular, with rounded top directed inward; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, distinctly wider and higher than inner hypostomal teeth, top directed upward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by concavity; median tooth absent (Fig 2C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, mesonotal process distinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spine short, with a wide base and acute top; humeral tubercle laterally weakly produced (Fig 8D). Surface shiny with sparse and thin rugulae; interspaces between rugulae smooth to indistinctly rugopunctate; promesonotal dorsum with sparser sculpture but never smooth. Pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig 8D and8F). Petiole. Shiny with fine and dense puncta; node smooth to finely punctate; in rear view dorsoventrally straight to slightly concave; pilosity sparse and erect (Fig 8D and8F). Postpetiole. Shiny and finely punctate; dorsum with reduced sculpture and sometimes smooth notch; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections (Fig 8D and8F). Gaster. Shiny, with a finely shagreened base of first gastral tergite; pilosity dense, long, and erect (Fig 8D and8F). Colour. Reddish-brown; legs and yellowish-brown to brown (Fig 8D and8F). Head. Occipital margin slightly convex; occipital carina absent (Fig 8A). Pilosity sparse, long, and suberect to erect. Sculpture shiny and sparsely punctate; sides posterolateral from eyes entirely to mostly smooth (Fig 8A and8C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and short, slightly arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; anterior mesonotum slightly concave; propodeal spine indistinct to small (Fig 8C). Sculpture shiny; sparsely punctate; puncta sometimes weaker or absent on promesonotal dorsum, katepisternum and lateral sides of propodeum. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig 8C and8E). Postpetiole. Convex; in dorsal view distinctly widening posteriad (Fig 8C and8E). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig 8C and8E). Colour. Brown; legs and antenna yellowish (Fig 8C and8E).
Biology. The species was collected between 760-1300 m in elevation, in montane rainforest and tropical dry forest. Nest were located under stones, under rootmat, and in rotten log. Worker were collected from sifted litter.
Comments. Pheidole comosa is the most distinct member of the fervens group. The species is parapatric with P. arivo and differ from it, and all remaining members of the group, by majors with dense, long and suberect to erect pilosity on the margins of head, and costulate to rugocostulate antennal scrobe with distinctly rugopunctate interspaces. Its minors are the only ones within the group with distinctly punctate head.
Etymology. Latin for having long or abundant hair in reference to dense and long setosity of major workers. Biology. The species was collected between 1-1676 m in elevation, in gardens, date farms, secondary vegetation, urban area, palm tree plantations. Nest were located in soil, under stones, rotten logs, and Cattaleya leaf. Worker were collected from the ground and sifted litter. Comments. Madagascar is a terra typica of Pheidole voeltzkowii Forel, 1894 a name currently considered as a junior synonym of P. indica. Personal investigation of type specimens of this species confirms its taxonomic position.
So far, P. indica has been recorded only from urban and anthropogenic sites of the island and its distribution overlaps only with P. arivo. However, majors of P. indica can be easily separated from other Madagascan members of the fervens group based on the combination of following characters: distinctly oval head in lateral view, sculptured margins posterolateral from eyes, distinct mesonotal process, antennal scrobe with costulae and smooth to indistinctly punctate interspaces, lateral margins of the head with sparse and appressed to subdecumbent setae, and entirely smooth gaster. Minors differ from remaining species based on entirely smooth head and promesonotum, steep posterior mesonotum and punctate katepisternum. leg., BLF12590, CASENT0067219 (CASC). PARATYPE: 1w., the same data as holotype, CASENT0923268 (CASC); 1w., 1s., the same locality as holotype., BLF12566, CASENT0066019 (PBZT); 1w., 1s., the same locality as holotype, BLF12578, CASENT0067502 (MHNG); 2w., 1s., 1m., the same locality as holotype, BLF12602, CASENT0067786, CASENT0067787 (CASC); 1w., 1s., the same locality as holotype, BLF12629, CASENT0067780 (CASC).
Other material. Madagascar. Antsiranana: 2w., 1s., 1m., Forêt Ambanitaza, 26.1 km 347Å ntalaha, -14.67933 50.18367, 240 m; 1w., 1s., Parc National de Marojejy, Antranohofa, 26.6 km 31˚NNE Andapa, 10.7 km 318˚NW Manantenina, -14.44333 49.74333, 1325 m. Fianarantsoa: 4w., 3s., 1m., Re ´serve Speciale Manombo 24.5 km 228˚Farafangana, -23.01583 47.719, 30 m. Toamasina: 1w., 1s., Analalava, 7.0 km 255˚Mahavelona, - Diagnosis. Major worker. Head, in full-face view sub-rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly. Margins of the head with dense, long and suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe with dense network of microrugulae and additional sparse and thick costulae. Frons with thick and sparse costulae, interspaces mostly smooth or with indistinct and dense microrugulae. Sides posterolateral from eyes and occipital lobe with dense network of microrugulae and additional sparse and thick rugae. Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, large, dentate, with the rounded top directed upward; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, approximately as high and wide as inner teeth; median tooth absent. Mesosoma densely microrugulate; promesonotal dorsum with additional thick and transverse rugae and weaker microrugulae; sometimes lateral sides of pronotum also with weaker microrugulae. Gaster with an indistinctly shagreened base of first gastral tergite. Body yellow to yellowish-brown; head and mesosoma sometimes slightly darker than other parts of the body. Minor worker. Head shiny; indistinctly punctate; sides posterolateral from eyes smooth to indistinctly punctate. Mesosoma punctate; promesonotal dorsum with weaker puncta and additional short and transverse rugae; lateral sides of pronotum sometimes partially smooth. Body yellow to yellowish-brown, head and mesosomal dorsum sometimes darker, yellowish-brown.
Description. Major worker. Measurements (n = 10): HL: 1.21-1.39 (1.29); HW: 1.22-1.37 (1.27); SL: 0.78-0.86 (0.81); EL: 0.13-0.16 (0.15); WL: 1.14-1.26 (1.2); PSL: 0.19-0.22 (0.21); MTL: 0.75-0.86 (0.8); PNW: 0.49-0.55 (0.52); PTW: 0.13-0.17 (0.15); PPW: 0.31-0.37 (0.34); CI: 98.9-103.2 (101.4); SI: 61.2-66.5 (63.5); PSLI: 15.2-17.7 (16.2); PPI: 40.7-48.3 (44.9); PNI: 39.2-42.0 (40.7); MTI: 59.6-64.9 (63.3).
Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior margins slightly convex (Fig 10B). In lateral view sub-oval. Inner hypostomal tooth visible. Margins of the head with dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; head dorsum with dense, long and decumbent to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobe distinct but shallow; densely microrugulate with additional sparse and thick costulae. Frons with thick and sparse costulae; interspaces between costulae mostly smooth or indistinctly microrugulate. Sides posterolateral from eyes and occipital lobe densely microrugulate with additional sparse and thick rugae. Gena with sparse and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae distinctly microreticulate. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny; lateral margins with indistinct microreticulae; median notch present, wide, and deep; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of the head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to suberect (Fig 10B and10D). Inner hypostomal tooth distinct, large, dentate, with rounded top directed upward; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, approximately as high and wide as inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; median tooth absent (Fig 2E Biology. The species was collected between 30-1325 m in elevation, in the rainforest, littoral rainforest, and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and sticks on the ground, in soil, in rotting tree stumps, in the petiole of Melastomataceae, and dead branch above ground. Comments. Pheidole mamirapiratra is known from area spread between Cap Masoala in Antsiranana and Toamasina city, with a single additional record from Re ´serve Speciale Manombo in Fianarantsoa and is sympatric with P. arivo and P. mena. However, morphologically P. mamirapiratra is most reminiscent of the introduced P. indica. Majors of P. mamirapiratra can be separated from other members of the fervens group based on a dense network of microrugulae and additional sparse and thick costulae on antennal scrobe and sculptured margins posterolateral from eyes. Minors can be separated from P. mena based on punctate mesosoma, from P. arivo based on punctate katepisternum and indistinctly punctate head; from P. indica based on indistinctly punctate head and indistinctly sculptured promesonotum.
Etymology. Malagasy for bright, in reference to the body colouration.
Pheidole mena sp. nov. Description. Minor worker. Measurements (n = 10): HL: 0.56-0.62 (0.59); HW: 0.48-0.52 (0.5); SL: 0.68-0.74 (0.7); EL: 0.13-0.14 (0.14); WL: 0.77-0.85 (0.81); PSL: 0.1-0.13 (0.1); MTL: 0.56-0.61 (0.58); PNW: 0.31-0.35 (0.34); PTW: 0.08-0.09 (0.08); PPW: 0.14-0.17 Biology. The species was collected between 80-1580 m in elevation, in tropical dry forest, montane rainforest and rainforest. Nest were located in rotten logs and rotten branch on the ground. Workers were collected from sifted litter.
Comments. Pheidole mena is distributed across the Antsiranana prefecture and is sympatric with P. arivo and P. mamirapiratra. Majors of P. mena can be easily separated based on reddish brown body coloration, presence of indistinct concavity connecting inner and outer hypostomal teeth, smooth posteriormost part of the margins of head, and more elongate and rectangular head shape in lateral view. Minors can be distinguished based on combination of the following characters: sparsely rugulate mesosoma, slightly concave anterior mesonotum, and smoothly declining towards propodeum posterior mesonotum.
Etymology. Malagasy for red, in reference to the body colouration of the major worker.
Madagascar hosts one of the highest numbers of endemic and threatened organisms on earth and is recognized as one of the top megadiversity regions [6,21,22]. The island has been isolated from continental Africa and Asia for more than 80 million years and sustains a wide range of ecoregions stretching from spiny deserts to tropical rainforest [6,22]. Pheidole is listed among the five hyper-diverse and dominant ant genera of the island. Along with Camponotus, Hypoponera, Strumigenys, and Tetramorium contain more than 50% of the estimated ant species of the island [6]. Regardless of the abundance and diversity of those genera, their taxonomy had been in a deficient state until recent times. One can estimate that the understanding of the diversity of Strumigenys [23], Camponotus [24][25][26][27], and Tetramorium [28][29][30][31][32] is fairly complete.
Revision of Madagascan Pheidole was initiated in 2019, and the first species-group division of this genus was proposed by Salata & Fisher [3]. Authors of this publication reviewed 11 species-groups, redescribed 6 species, and described 46 taxa new to science. In the following publications, Salata & Fisher [4,5] revised 62 additional species, representatives of the sikorae and bessonii species-groups. Results presented in this paper supplement the number of known and described Pheidole species by further 5 taxa. Thus, the total number of Pheidole known from the island is currently estimated at 124, and as many as 122 or 98% of them are known exclusively from Madagascar. While for the Malagasy region, the number increased to 135, and 131 or 97% of them are recorded only from this region. Our results confirm exceptional diversity and richness or Madagascan fauna [6,22] and are in line with estimations provided by Fisher & Peeters [6], who stated that the endemism rate for ants known from Madagascar and surrounding islands reaches 98%. However, the number is still incomplete and is expected to increase together with forthcoming revisions of the two species-groups: megacephala and lucida.
Madagascar, as one of the top megadiversity regions, faces numerous threats. Among the most destructive are deforestation and forest fragmentation caused by agriculture, mining and logging [21,33,34], and introductions of invasive species [35]. Madagascan endemic species, alike other insular endemics, may have evolved in the absence of natural enemies and be more vulnerable to predation and competition [36]. Fisher & Peeters [6] noted that 41 out of 1281 ant species known from Madagascar are introduced. However, their impact on native fauna is still unstudied. Pheidole indica, so far, the only known introduced on Madagascar member of the fervens species-group, is not regarded as a major pest to agriculture or native ecosystems [8]. However, Sarnat et a. [8] predict that it could negatively impact native arthropods. On the island, P. indica is recorded only from urban and anthropogenic sites, and there is no record of its direct negative impact on native ant fauna. However, we predict that the species will be continuing to spread across the island following advancing degradation and deforestation of Madagascar. Herewith, it can indirectly negatively impact native species by occupying their niches in regions exposed to human activity.
PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244195 January 6, 2021