Camponotus habereri Forel, 1911

Dhadwal, Tarun & Bharti, Himender, 2023, Two new species of the genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with five new records from India, European Journal of Taxonomy 901 (1), pp. 1-51 : 13-17

Camponotus habereri Forel, 1911

Figs 8–9

Camponotus habereri Forel, 1911: 293 .

Camponotus habereri – Forel 1912a: 76 ; 1913a: 200.

Camponotus (Myrmoturba) habereri – Forel 1913a: 200. — Emery 1920: 255.

Camponotus (Myrmothrix) habereri – Forel 1914: 269.

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) habereri – Emery 1925: 93.

Diagnosis

This species resembles C. nicobarensis Mayr, 1865 but can be easily separated from the latter by following a combination of characteristics: in C. nicobarensis (major worker), the masticatory margin is armed with 5 teeth; the dorsal surface of the gaster is marked with black and yellowish alternate bands; the body is covered with very sparse and erect or sub-erect hairs. While in C. nicobarensis (major worker), the masticatory margin of the mandibles are armed with 7 teeth; the gaster is brownish with a blackish edge of the proceeding tergite; the head, mesosoma, and gaster are all covered with very long, dense, and erect or sub-erect hairs on their dorsal surfaces.

Material examined

INDIA • 14 workers; Arunachal Pradesh, Dirang ; 27.3605° N, 92.2473° E; elev. 1560 m; 3 Nov. 2019; T. Dhadwal leg.; hand picking method; PUAC T71 to T84 .

Measurements

Major worker (n = 7)

HL 2.97–3.16; HW 2.72–3.03; EL 0.60–0.62; SL 2.70–2.85; PW 1.36–1.72; WL 3.41–3.65; MTL 2.35– 2.54; HTL 3.03–3.22; PL 0.80–0.93; PH 0.93–1.05; GL 2.66–3.41; TL 9.84–11.15; CI 91–95; SI 94–99; REL 19–20; PrI 50–56.

Minor worker (n = 7)

HL 1.64–2.01; HW 0.94–1.06; EL 0.45–0.48; SL 2.37–2.54; PW 0.86–0.94; WL 2.74–3.03; MTL 2.05– 2.09; HTL 2.33–2.66; PL 0.61–0.69; PH 0.61–0.69; GL 2.25–2.47; TL 7.24–8.20; CI 39–53; SI 239– 252; REL 24–27; PrI 88–91.

Description

Major worker ( Fig. 8 )

HABITUS. In full-face view, head subtriangular, longer than broad (CI 91–95), with posterior margin emarginated medially, occipital corners rounded, lateral sides convex and converging anteriorly; clypeus broad and flat with a transverse anterior margin and pointed lateral angles; mandibles massive and triangular, with 5 teeth; eyes large, placed dorsally, slightly above the mid-length of head; antennae long, slender and 12-segmented, scape long (SI 94–99) surpasses the posterior head margin by ¼ of its length. In dorsal view, mesosoma anteriorly broad (PrI 50–56) and progressively narrow posteriorly; promesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct; pronotum broader than rest of mesosoma; mesosoma forming a single convexity in lateral view; propodeal declivity slightly concave; propodeal spiracle elongated or slit-like placed below the margin of the propodeal declivity; anterior face of petiole convex and posterior face straight, dorsally convex and slightly emarginated; tibiae compressed; gaster large and oval.

SCULPTURE. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster microreticulated; clypeus, genae and antennal scape punctured; mandibles with scattered punctures. Except for the anterior region of the head and the gaster, the body is gleaming.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. Entire body covered with sparse, pale yellow and erect hairs; dense erect hairs present on anterior clypeal margin and on apex of the gaster; ventral margin of the hind tibia lacking a row of spiny bristles, but bearing 3–4 suberect setae close to apical spurs; body covered with short dense decumbent hairs.

COLOURATION. Mandibles, genae, antennal scape and appendages reddish brown; vertex with dark brownish band; posterior to the genae, mesosoma and petiole light brownish; dorsal surface of the gaster with alternating black and yellowish bands.

Minor worker ( Fig. 9 )

Same characteristics as of the major worker, except: head relatively small (CI 39–53), elongated and subrectangular with parallel lateral sides, posterior margin of the head convex; scape long (SI 239–252), surpassing the posterior head margin by more than half of its length.

Global distribution

Japan (type locality) and Taiwan.

Habitat

The nest was found inside the trunk of a tree. The workers were collected from both the grass and tree branches. The average daily temperature of the region was 28°C and it primarily consists of residential areas.

Relevance

Camponotus habereri Forel, 1911 represents a new record for India. Previously, this species was reported in Japan and Taiwan.

Figures

Fig. 8. Camponotus habereri Forel, 1911, major worker (PUAC T73). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 9. Camponotus habereri Forel, 1911, minor worker (PUAC T75). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.