Camponotus raina Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2018

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology, Zootaxa 4438 (1), pp. 1-58 : 47-49

Camponotus raina Rakotonirina & Fisher sp. n.

( Figures 5B , 6A , 31 , 39 )

Holotype worker. Madagascar: Province Antsiranana, Forêt d'Andavakoera , 21.4 km 75° ENE Ambilobe; 4.6 km 356° N Betsiaka, -13.11833, 49.23, 425 m, ex rotten log, rainforest 16 Dec 2003 (B.L. Fisher et al.) BLF10292, CASENT0499051 ( CASC) .

Paratypes. 8 minor and 6 major workers with same data as holotype but with specimen codes: minors: CASENT0499049, CASENT0499050, CASENT0804659, CASENT0804660, CASENT0804661, CASENT0804662, CASENT0804663, CASENT0804664; majors: CASENT0499052, CASENT0499053, CASENT0804665, CASENT0804666, CASENT0804667, CASENT0804668 ( CASC, BMNH, MHNG, MSNG, PBZT).

Diagnosis. Median portion of clypeus with longitudinal carina; anteromedian margin of clypeus covered with lamella; pronotum, junction of dorsum and declivity surface of propodeum and posterodorsal margin of petiole each with one pair of elongate, stout erect hairs; in lateral view, petiolar node longer than high; distal portion of procoxa white.

Description. Minor worker. In full-face view, head longer than wide, lateral margin straight and slightly

converging posteriorly; posterior margin more or less straight. Anteromedian clypeal margin broadly convex and with broadly rounded, translucent lamella. Eyes breaking lateral outlines of head, their posterior margins located well behind the mid-length of the head (PoOc/CL: 0.35±0.02; 0.31–0.37). Mandible triangular, apical margin with six sharp teeth. Antennal scape long, roughly its distal half extending beyond posterior cephalic margin. In lateral view, promesonotum flat and becoming curved toward junction to propodeum; propodeal dorsum straight, propodeal declivity inclined posteriorly; petiolar node longer than high.

Blunt, elongate, erect brown hairs and short and sparse pubescence present on dorsum of head, petiolar node, and gastral segments. Head reddish-orange laterally and reddish-black to dark brown frontally, petiole reddishblack to dark brown; trochanter and distal portion of coxae whitish-yellow; abdominal segments yellow-orange with black patches in anterolateral portions of 3 and 4 and darker color from segment 6; scape, femur, and tarsus a lighter color.

Major worker. With characterisitics of minor worker, except for the following divergent features: enlarged head, apical fifth of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin, much more robust mesosoma, pronotum and mesonotum forming a convexity, separated from propodeum by a distinct metanotum; propodeal dorsum rounding to declivity; petiolar node tapering dorsally; larger dark brown to black spots on gastral tergites, sometimes on mesosoma and head.

Discussion. In the Camponotus subgenus Mayria , C. raina can be confused with C. tanosy , but in the latter the anteromedian margin of the clypeus is not bordered by a lamella, the masticatory margin of the mandible is armed with five teeth, and the petiolar node is higher than long. Camponotus raina may also be confounded with C. sada but the latter has an elongate but low mesosoma and a black to dark brown head and mesosoma.

The taxonomic identity of C. raina based on conventional qualitative morphology is supported by multivariate morphometric analysis. The grouping of the samples of this species obtained from the NC-clustering and partitioning methods is confirmed by LDA with an identification success of 100%.

Distribution and biology. This species is limited to the littoral and rainforests as well as the tropical dry forests of northeastern Madagascar. Members of C. raina have been found nesting in rotten logs and rotten sticks on the ground and foraging in leaf litter, on forest floors, and on low vegetation.

Additional material examined. Province Antsiranana: Ambondrobe, 41.1 km 175° Vohemar , 10 m, - 13.71533, 50.10167, littoral rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Forêt d'Andavakoera , 21.4 km 75° ENE Ambilobe, 4.6 km 356° N Betsiaka, 425 m, -13.11833, 49.23, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Forêt d’Antsahabe , 11.4 km 275° W Daraina, 550 m, -13.21167, 49.55667, tropical dry forest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Forêt d'Ampondrabe , 26.3 km 10° NNE Daraina, 175 m, -12.97, 49.7, tropical dry forest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Forêt de Binara , 7.5 km 230° SW Daraina, 375 m, -13.255, 49.61667, tropical dry forest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Mesosoma and petiolar node in lateral view. A: C. manabo (CASENT0496383). B: C. lubbocki (CASENT0486998).

FIGURE 6. Head in full-face view. A: C. liandia (CASENT0803904). B: C. lubbocki (CASENT0486998).

FIGURE 31. Camponotus raina minor worker CASENT0499051. A: lateral view. B: head in full-face view. C: dorsal view.

FIGURES 35–42. Distribution maps of Camponotus subgenus Mayria in Madagascar. Fig. 35: C. maculiventris, Fig. 36: C. mainty, Fig. 37: C. manabo, Fig. 38: C. pulcher, Fig. 39: C. raina, Fig. 40: C. repens, Fig. 41: C. sada, Fig. 42: C. tanosy.