Camponotus echinoploides Forel

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude, Csosz, Sandor & Fisher, Brian L., 2016, Revision of the Malagasy Camponotusedmondi species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae): integrating qualitative morphology and multivariate morphometric analysis, ZooKeys 572, pp. 81-154 : 108-111

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Camponotus echinoploides Forel Figures 10A, 11A, 22, 37

Camponotus echinoploides Forel, 1891: 51. Holotype minor worker, Madagascar, 30 miles northwest Toamasina (=Tamatave) ( O’swald), AntWeb CASENT0101379 (MHNG) [examined]. [Combination in Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) : Forel 1914: 270; in Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) : Emery 1920: 258; in Camponotus (Myrmepinotus) : Santschi 1921: 312; Wheeler 1922: 1053; Emery 1925: 126; Bolton 1995: 97, 131].

Additional material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Province Antananarivo: 3 km 41° NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147° SSE Anjozorobe, -18.47333, 47.96, 1300 m, montane rainforest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CASC); Province Antsiranana: Réserve Spéciale Manongarivo, 14.5 km 220° SW Antanambao, -13.99833, 48.42833, 1175 m, montane rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Réserve Spéciale Manongarivo, 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao, -13.96167, 48.43333, 400 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 27.6 km 35° NE Andapa, 9.6 km 327° NNW Manantenina, -14.435, 49.76, 775 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Rés. Analamerana, 16.7 km 123° Anivorano-Nord, -12.80467, 49.37383, 225 m, tropical dry forest (B.L.Fisher) (CASC); Betaolana Forest, along Bekona River, -14.52996, 49.44039, 880 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Province Fianarantsoa: Parc National Befotaka-Midongy, Papango 27.7km S Midongy-Sud, Mount Papango, -23.83517, 46.96367, 940 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); radio tower, Ranomafana National Park, -21.25083, 47.40717, 1130 m, forest edge, mixed tropical forest, open area (M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala) (CASC); JIRAMA water works near river, Ranomafana National Park, -21.2485, 47.45217, 690 m, open area near stream, (R. Harin’Hala) (CASC); Province Mahajanga: Réserve Spéciale Marotandrano, Marotandrano 48.3 km S Mandritsara, -16.28322, 48.81443, 865 m, transition humid forest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Province Toamasina: Montagne d’Anjanaharibe, 18.0 km 21° NNE Ambinanitelo, -15.18833, 49.615, 470 m, rainforest, (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CASC); Montagne d’Akirindro 7.6 km 341° NNW Ambinanitelo, -15.28833, 49.54833, 600 m, rainforest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CASC); Parc National Mananara-Nord, 7.1 km 261° Antanambe, -16.455, 49.7875, 225 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana, -18.80388, 48.40506, 1013 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Province Toliara: Forêt Classée Analavelona, 29.2 km 343° NNW Mahaboboka, -22.675, 44.19, 1100 m, montane rainforest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CASC).

Diagnosis.

In profile, anterior and posterior margins of petiolar node convex; in profile, propodeum strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, without clear distinction between dorsal margin and declivity; in dorsal view, mesonotum three times as broad as long; posterodorsal corner of mesonotum raised into a bluntly rounded shield.

Description.

Minor worker (Figs 10A, 11A, 22). In full-face view head as long as broad (CWb/CL: 0.94-1), broader posteriorly; posterior margin broadly convex, lateral margins roughly straight. Eyes larger relative to head size (EL/CS: 0.19-0.24), anterior level located at about posterior third of head (PrOc/CL: 0.52-0.6). Clypeus with broadly convex anterior margin and medially notched posterior margin. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin armed with six sharp teeth. Antennal scape slightly long (SL/CS: 0.9-1.05), distal half almost surpassing posterior cephalic margin. Pronotal dorsum flat, anteriorly projecting into narrow ridge; dorsum and lateral face separated by longitudinal margination. In dorsal view, mesonotum three times as broad as long, posterodorsal corner raised into bluntly rounded ridge. Propodeum strongly compressed anteroposteriorly and lacking a clear separation of the dorsal margin and declivity. Propodeal spiracle located on posterior face of propodeum. Procoxa voluminous, maximum width as large as the combined width of meso-metapleuron and propodeal surface; femur of foreleg enlarged, twice as large as those of mid-leg and hind leg. Anterior and posterior margins of petiolar node convex. No constriction between abdominal segments III and IV.

Dorsum of head and mesosoma finely and densely reticulate punctate. Mandible finely and densely reticulate superimposed with scattered large punctures. Gastral segments covered with finely and densely reticulate punctate sculpture. Whitish erect hairs present as a pair on mesonotum and as two pairs near lateral margins of propodeum. Hairs lacking on pronotum. Whitish erect hairs present near lateral margins of posterior face of petiolar node. Gastral segments with sparse and much shorter erect hairs and pubescence. Body color shining black; appendages black to dark brown basally, flagellum brown, trochanter and metatarsus light brown to yellow.

Major worker. Characteristics of minor worker, except: head in full-face view as long as broad (CWb/CL: 1.01-1.02), lateral margins almost parallel, but strongly converging near the base of mandibles. Eyes smaller relative to head size (EL/CS: 0.17), anterior level located roughly at mid-length of head (PrOc/CL: 0.51-0.51). Anterior clypeal margin truncate and posterior margin medially notched. Apical portion of antennal scape barely reaching posterior cephalic margin (SL/CS: 0.6-0.62). In dorsal view, mesonotum roughly twice as broad as long. Metanotum visible between metanotal groove and propodeum.

Distribution and biology.

Endemic to Madagascar, Camponotus echinoploides occupies the eastern rainforest (Fig. 37), areas with transitional northern rainforest, relict montane rainforest in the central plateau, and the southwest of the island. The fact that most of its members have been found foraging on low vegetation and nesting in dead branches above the ground suggests that Camponotus echinoploides is arboreal.

Discussion.

Camponotus echinoploides is mostly similar to Camponotus galoko , but the latter has no extended shield rising from the posterodorsal corner of the mesonotum. The conventional taxonomic delimitation of Camponotus echinoploides is confirmed by the NC-clustering method. In addition, the recognition of the species is corroborated by confirmatory LDA at 100% classification success.