Camponotus lubbocki Forel

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 : 35-37

Camponotus lubbocki Forel

( Figures 2A , 3B , 5B , 6B , 20 , 26 )

Camponotus lubbocki Forel, 1886b: 186 . Lectotype minor worker, present designation, Madagascar, Imerina Antananarivo [Fianarantsoa, Amoron’I Mania, Ambositra, Fahizay, -20.5, 47.333332, 1317 m] (Camboué), AntWeb CASENT0101518 (MHNG). [examined]. Paralectotypes. 1 major worker and 1 alate queen with same data as lectotype but with specimen codes: CASENT0101516, CASENT0101515 (MHNG). [Combination in Camponotus (Myrmosaga) : Forel, 1912: 92; Emery, 1920: 257; Wheeler, 1922: 1046; in Camponotus (Mayria) : Emery, 1925: 123; Bolton, 1995: 109, 131].

Camponotus lubbocki var. christoides Forel, 1891: 61 . Holotype minor worker, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Lokobe (O’Swald) [not examined]. Raised to species by Dalla Torre, 1893:224. As subspecies of lubbocki, Emery, 1896: 772 ; Wheeler, 1922: 1046. [Combination in Camponotus (Mayria) : Emery, 1925: 123]. Syn. n.

Camponotus lubbocki var. rectus Forel, 1891: 217 . Lectotype minor worker, present designation, Süd Central Madagascar [Fianarantsoa Urban, Haute Matsiatra, 2eme Arrondissement, -21.433332, 47.083332, 1160 m] (Hildebrandt), AntWeb CASENT0101512 (MHNG) [examined]. Paralectotypes. 1 worker of same data as lectotype but with specimen code: CASENT0101514 (MHNG); 2 minor workers from Forêt d’Andrangoloaka [Mantasoa, Manjakandriana, -19.033333, 47.916668, 1409 m] (Sikora), with specimen codes: CASENT0101105, CASENT0101106 (NHMB) [examined]. [Combination in Camponotus (Myrmosaga) : Wheeler, 1922: 1046; in Camponotus (Mayria) : Emery, 1925: 123; Bolton, 1995: 109, 120]. Syn. n.

Diagnosis. Median portion of clypeus with longitudinal carina; anteromedian margin of clypeus broadly rounded; in lateral view, mesosoma long and low; petiolar node tapered dorsally; body entirely dark brown to black, coxa without white color; dorsum of mesosoma covered with 6 to 10 short erect hairs and abundant and long pubescence.

Description. Minor worker. In full-face view, head elongate and rectangular, posterolateral margin rounding to the roughly straight posterior margin. Clypeus with broadly rounded anterior margin and remarkable anterolateral angles; median carina visible and fully developed. Eyes not breaking lateral outlines of head, their posterior margins located far behind the midlength of the head (PoOc/CL: 0.27±0.01; 0.25–0.30). Mandible triangular, apical margin with six sharp teeth. Antennal scape long, its basal half nearly reaching posterior cephalic border. In lateral view, pronotum and anterior portion of mesonotum noticeably convex; posterior portion of mesonotum and propodeal dorsum straight; junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity surface broadly angulate; propodeal dorsum roughly three times longer than height of declivity; propodeal spiracle slit-like. Petiolar node higher than long and tapering dorsally.

Sparse, erect hairs, shorter than height of propodeal declivity and abundant, long pubescence present on dorsum of head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster; body color entirely reddish-black to black.

Major worker. With characteristics of minor worker, except for the following characters: enlarged head, with slight medial excision on posterior margin; medially concave anterior clypeal margin; apical third of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; pronotum and mesonotum forming an even convexity and separated from propodeum by distinct metanotum.

Discussion. Camponotus lubbocki is morphologically similar to C. liandia and C. manabo but the anteromedian clypeal margin projects into an obtuse triangular lobe in C. liandia . In C. manabo , the dorsal margin of the petiolar node is convex in lateral view and the mesosomal dorsum is covered with numerous erect hairs and sparse, short pubescence.

We were not able to examine the type specimen of C. lubbocki var. christoides , but based on the original description the distinctive characters that were used to differentiate it from C. lubbocki vary within and across the populations of C. lubbocki . Thus, the synonymy of C. lubbocki var. christoides under C. lubbocki .

The qualitative morphological distinction between C. lubbocki and C. liandia has been confirmed by multivariate analyses of quantitative morphology. The cluster of C. lubbocki samples in the NC-clustering dendrogram is supported by LDA with a classification success of 100%.

Distribution and biology. Camponotus lubbocki commonly occurs in montane shrubland and montane rainforests in the northeast, central, and southern high plateau of Madagascar. The species is rarely known from rainforests and the transitional forest between spiny and dry forests. Across this mountainous region, the species nests mostly in the ground, in root mats in the ground, and under moss on the ground, but occasionally nests in rotten logs and under stones.

Additional material examined. Province Antananarivo: [Andrangloaka], Mantasoa, Manjakandriana, 1409 m, -19.03333, 47.91667 (Sikora), ( NHMB), [Antananarivo, Museum Paris, Grandidier 1899], Ambatomanjaka, Miarinarivo, 1398 m, -18.705147, 46.825284, ( MNHN) ; [Central Madagascar], Ambatomanjaka, Miarinarivo, 1344 m,-18.766947, 46.869107 ( MHNG) ; [ Env. de Tananarive ], Ambatomanjaka, Miarinarivo, 1399 m, - 18.705147, 46.825284, ( MNHN) ; [Imerina], Fahizay, Ambositra, 1317 m, -20.5, 47.33333, (MHNG); [ Madagascar, Museum Paris, Grandidier 1899], Ambatomanjaka, Miarinarivo, 1344 m,-18.766947, 46.869107, ( MNHN) ; [Sud Central Madagascar], 2eme Arrondissement , Fianarantsoa Urban; 1160 m, -21.433332, ( MHNG) ; Tsimbazaza , Antananarivo renivohitra, 1275 m, -18.93, 45.52611, ( MNHN) ; [Tananarive], Ambatomanjaka, Miarinarivo, 1398 m, -18.705147, 46.825284, (MNHN); Ankatso, Tankafatra, Andramasina, 1519 m, -19.3, 47.83333, 20 Fev., ( MNHN); Province Antsiranana: Montagne d’Ambre, Mosorolava , Antsiranana Rural; 1113 m, -12.616667, 49.15, ( MNHN) ; Parc National de Marojejy, 25.4 km 30° NNE Andapa, 10.9 km 311° NW Manantenina , 2000 m, -14.445, 49.735, montane shrubland, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; R. N.I. Marojejy, 11 km NW Manantenina , 1875 m, -14.45, 49.73333, montane rainforest, (E.L. Quinter) ( CASC) ; Province Fianarantsoa: 27.4 km SSW Ambositra , 1600 m, -20.77, 47.18667, ( CASC) ; 28 km. SSW Ambositra, Ankazomivady, 1670 m, - 20.775, 47.16833, (CASC); 36 km S Ambalavao, Réserve Andringitra , 900 m, -22.2, 46.93833, W 1 large mixed sample, ( CASC) ; 8.0 km NE Ivohibe, 1200 m, -22.42167, 46.96833, gc#135-173. general collecting, (Sylvain) (CASC); 8.5 km SE Antanitotsy, Anjavidilava Forest , 1990 m, -22.16667, 46.96667, MW 25 sample transect, 5m, ( CASC) ; 36 km S Ambalavao, Réserve Andringitra , 1900 m, -22.2, 46.96667, montane rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Parc National Befotaka-Midongy, Papango 28.5 km S Midongy-Sud, Mount Papango , 1250 m, - 23.84083, 46.9575, montane rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CASC) ; Miandritsara Forest , 40 km S of Ambositra, 822 m, -20.79267, 47.17567, Malaise, ( CASC) ; Parc National Andringitra, Forêt Ravaro 12.5 km SW Antanifotsy, 1500–1800 m, -22.21167, 46.845, Parc National Befotaka-Midongy, Papango 28.5 km S Midongy-Sud, Mount Papango , 1500 m, -22.21167, 46.845, ( CASC) ; Parc naturel communautaire, 29.3 km SW Ambositra, 1250 m, - 23.84083, 46.9575, ( CASC) ; Réserve Andringitra , cuvette du Pic Boby, 2500 m, -22.18333, 46.9, ( CASC) ; Réserve Andringitra, Plateau d'Andohariana, base of Pic d'Ivangomena , 2450 m, -22.2, 46.9, ( CASC) ; Réserve Andringitra , 8.5 km SE Antanitotsy, 1990 m, -22.16667, 46.96667, ( CASC) ; Province Mahajanga: Prov. d'Analalava, Maromandia, Bemanevika, Sambava, 26 m, -14.15, 50.11667, ( MNHN) ; Province Toamasina: Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , 475 m, -16.76912, 49.26704, ( CASC) ; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , 355 m, -16.77468, 49.26551, ( CASC) ; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , 360 m, -16.81753, 49.29498, yellow pan trap, YP 25 trap transect, ( CASC) ; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , 400 m, -16.81745, 49.2925, ( CASC) ; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , 480 m, -16.80561, 49.29507, ( CASC) ; RNI Marojejy , 10.5 km NW Manantenina, 1625 m, -14.43333, 49.75, yellow pan trap, ( CASC) ; Province Toliara: Forêt Vohidava , 88.9 km N Amboasary, 500 m, -24.24067, 46.28783, spiny forest/dry forest transition, (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CASC) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Head in full-face view. A: C. lubbocki (CASENT0486998). B: C. lamosy (CASENT0408976).

FIGURE 3. Mesosoma and petiolar node in lateral view. A: C. repens (CASENT0217300). B: C. lubbocki (CASENT0486998).

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 20. Camponotus lubbocki minor worker CASENT0486998. A: lateral view. B: head in full-face view. C: dorsal view.

FIGURES 21–26. Distribution maps of Camponotus subgenus Mayria in Madagascar. Fig. 21: C. christi; Fig. 22: C. dromedarius; Fig. 23: C. foersteri; Fig. 24: C. lamosy; Fig. 25: C. liandia, Fig. 26: C. lubbocki.