Camponotus (Myrmotrema) foraminosus Forel

Wheeler, W. M., 1922, The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition., Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45, pp. 39-269 : 249

Camponotus (Myrmotrema) foraminosus Forel , variety

Numerous workers and four males from Faradje and Avakubi, and probably several females from Stanleyville and Bengamisa (Lang and Chapin), belong to a variety of this species, which 1 refrain from naming, owing to the small amount of material of this extremely variable species in my collection. Prof. Emery, to whom specimens were submitted, writes that "the pubescence is more abundant and more golden than in Congo specimens sent by Forel as corresponding to the type of the species. The true type is a unique and is in the collection of the Museum of Geneva."

The specimens from Faradje were found "living in the hollow cavities of twigs and branches which they probably bored themselves. The cavities also contained numerous estivating snails, which were evidently not molested by the ants. The snails were so tightly attached to the surface that they were often broken when an attempt was made to remove them. About this time (the latter half of December and beginning of February) the grass is burned all over the country. The flames leap high and the heat is incredible, many of the branches of the trees being killed by the fire. This may be a reason for the snails' seeking refuge in the cavities made by the ants." The snails belonged to Pachnodus herbigradus Pilsbry.1 (See p. 154).