Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Antananarivo; 3 km 41°NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe; -18.47333, 47.96; alt. 1300 m; 5 Dec 2000; Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex dead branch above ground; BLF02441; CASENT0427790, bottom specimen on the pin (CASC). Paratypes. • 5w., 8s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0427762, CASENT00872251, CASENT0413711, CASENT0413712, CASENT0427765 (CASC, MHNG, PBZT).

Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides relatively straight, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; medial part of frons with moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae, rugae in posteromedial portion directed slightly outward, interspaces shiny with sparse and distinct rugofoveolae; lateral sides with longitudinal, thicker, and relatively sparser rugae; interspaces shiny with relatively dense and distinct rugofoveolae; occipital lobes, and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; 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 slightly outward; 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 concavity; mesosoma with thick and sparse foveolae; pronotum with additional transverse to irregular, thin rugae; katepisternum with smooth notch; gaster smooth; body orange. Minor workers. Head foveolate with additional longitudinal to irregular, interrupted, and moderately thick rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with weaker foveolae and smooth notches; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines minute and triangular; mesosoma with thick foveolae; lateral sides of propodeum, katepisternum, and anepisternum with smooth notches; body yellow.

Major workers. Measurements (N = 9): HL: 1.06–1.14 (1.09); HW: 1.02–1.13 (1.08); SL: 0.63–0.66 (0.64); EL: 0.14–0.17 (0.15); WL: 0.98–1.08 (1.03); PSL: 0.16–0.18 (0.17); MTL: 0.63–0.65 (0.64); PNW: 0.41–0.52 (0.47); PTW: 0.13–0.15 (0.14); PPW: 0.25–0.3 (0.27); CI: 97.6–104.3 (101.0); SI: 56.4–63.3 (59.7); PSLI: 15.1–17.1 (16.0); PPI: 47.3–55.8 (51.5); PNI: 39.2–47.0 (43.3); MTI: 57.1–63.9 (59.9).

Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides relatively straight (Fig. 33B). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with moderately dense, thin, longitudinal rugae, rugae in posteromedial directed slightly outward, interspaces shiny with sparse and distinct rugofoveolae; lateral sides with longitudinal, thicker, and relatively sparser rugae; interspaces shiny with relatively dense and distinct rugofoveolae. Occipital lobes with sparse, thick, and longitudinal to irregular rugae; interspaces rugofoveolate. Gena with relatively dense and thick, longitudinal rugae and rugofoveolate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes shiny, with dense, longitudinal rugofoveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 33B, D). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed slightly outward; 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 concavity (Fig. 63O). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, moderately narrow, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 33D). Surface shiny with thick and sparse foveolae; pronotum with additional transverse to irregular, thin rugae; katepisternum with smooth notch. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 33D, F). Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse foveolae; node smooth to finely foveolate, low, triangular, with rounded and thin apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally straight to slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 33D, F). Postpetiole. Shiny and smooth; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 33D, F). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 33D, F). Colour. Dark orange; mandibles slightly darker; legs yellow (Fig. 33D, F).

Minor workers. Measurements (N = 5): HL: 0.6–0.63 (0.61); HW: 0.5–0.53 (0.52); SL: 0.61–0.64 (0.62); EL: 0.11–0.12 (0.12); WL: 0.76–0.82 (0.79); PSL: 0.08–0.09 (0.09); MTL: 0.52–0.55 (0.54); PNW: 0.33–0.35 (0.34); PTW: 0.09–0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.14–0.15 (0.15); CI: 114.8–121.9 (118.8); SI: 115.4–123.9 (120.9); PSLI: 12.9–14.6 (13.9); PPI: 57.3–70.4 (62.7); PNI: 63.4–67.4 (66.0); MTI: 101.5–106.2 (103.8).

Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly convex or straight (Fig. 33A). Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to suberect. Sculpture foveolate with additional longitudinal to irregular, interrupted, and moderately thick rugae; area posterolateral from eyes with weaker foveolae and smooth notches. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 33A, C). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines minute and triangular (Fig. 33C). Sculpture shiny and with thick foveolae; lateral sides of propodeum, katepisternum, and anepisternum with smooth notches. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 33C, E). Postpetiole. Short, low, and relatively flat; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 33C, E). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 33C, E). Colour. Yellow, vertex slightly darker (Fig. 33C, E).

Malagasy for tree in reference to arboreal nesting preferences of the species.

The species was collected at 1300 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nest was located in dead branch above ground.

Pheidole hazo sp. nov., described from the vicinity of Andranoma in Antananarivo, is most similar to P. dasos sp. nov., known from Makirovana forest in Antsiranana, and P. sparsa sp. nov., recorded so far only from Bemanevika in Mahajanga. Majors of P. hazo sp. nov. can be distinguished from both taxa by medial part of frons with moderately dense rugae with interspaces with distinct rugofoveolae, and pronotum lacking smooth notches; minors of P. hazo sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. sparsa sp. nov. by yellow body colouration, and mesosoma predominantly with dense foveolae, and from P. dasos sp. nov. by yellow body colouration, shorter scape surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length, and pronotum with distinct and dense foveolae.