Camponotus jjacquia, Rasoamanana & Fisher, 2022

Rasoamanana, Nicole & Fisher, Brian L., 2022, A taxonomic revision of the Malagasy endemic subgenus Mayria of the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) based on qualitative morphology and quantitative morphometric analyses, ZooKeys 1081, pp. 137-231 : 137

Camponotus jjacquia sp. nov.

Figures 10C, D , 45A , 66

Holotype worker.

Madagascar, Province Toliara, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81°E Efoetse, 23.0 km 131°SE Beheloka, -23.99222, 43.88067, 90 m, spiny forest/thicket, under stone, 22-26 March 2002 (BLF), collection code: BLF06310, specimen code: CASENT0445276 (CAS). Paratypes. Four workers with the same data as holotype CASENT0445284, CASENT0445285, CASENT0445287, CASENT0445288 (CAS).

Worker diagnosis.

Integument black; entire body with plentiful, erect setae; anterior clypeal margin produced into a rounded triangular lobe; dorsal outline of mesosoma slightly impressed at the level of metanotum; petiole long and low.

Description of minor worker.

Medium-sized. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 0.99 ± 0.14; 0.91-1.09). In full-face view, head almost quadrate (CWb/CL: 0.32 ± 0.02; 0.31-0.34); posterior margin evenly straight, lateral margin of head anterior to eyes slightly convex. Eyes circular, placed above midline of head (PoOC/CL: 0.10 ± 0.02; 0.09-0.12). Mandibles triangular with six teeth. Clypeus carinate, its anterior border angularly produced in the middle (ClyL/GPD: 0.20 ± 0.06, 0.16-0.23). Antennal scape long, surpassing the occiput by the length of one basal funiculus (SL/CS: 0.34 ± 0.02; 0.32-0.34). In lateral view, anterodorsal corner of pronotum rounded, mesonotum dorsum inclined toward nearly straight propodeum face (MW/ML: 0.19 ± 0.02, 0.18-0.20; MPH/ML: 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.12-0.14). In lateral view, petiolar node longer than wide, with flat summit, its anterior face leaning forward. Ants finely foveolate throughout, apparently shiny. Entire body, including mandibles and appendages, covered with plentiful, erect, whitish setae, uneven in length, some long. Head, mesosoma, and gaster dark brown to black; antennae, mandibles, tibiae, and tarsi reddish brown.

Description of major worker.

Characteristics of minor workers, except: head much wider posteriorly (CS: 1.68 ± 0.07, 1.61-1.76; CWb/CL: 0.91 ± 0.02, 0.89-0.92); lateral margins convex and converging towards base of mandible. Eyes circular placed dorsolaterally midway from the occipital margin (PoOC/CL: 0.30 ± 0.00, 0.29-0.30). Clypeus with a short rectangular lobe with rounded lateral angle (ClyL/GPD: 0.85 ± 0.03, 0.81-0.88). Antennal scape short, not reaching the occipital margin (SL/CS: 0.57 ± 0.02, 0.56-0.59). Dorsal outline of mesosoma interrupted by sutures, metanotal suture forms a canal. Head dorsum and mesosoma coarsely reticulate-punctate, petiole finely striolate, gaster imbricate and shiny.

Distribution and biology.

The known elevational range of Camponotus jjacquia extends from 43 to 923 m. Specimens have been collected on tree trunks, on low vegetation, in leaf litter, and under stones in Bismarckia woodland, deciduous forest, gallery forest, savannah woodland, spiny forest, and tropical dry forest (Fig. 72C ). This species nests in the soil.

Discussion.

The unique petiolar shape, the density of its pilosity, and the shape of its metanotal dorsum make C. jjacquia a very distinctive species.

Etymology.

The new species is dedicated to Jean Jacques Rafanomezantsoa, who has been a Malagasy ant collector for more than twenty years.

Additional material examined.

Province Fianarantsoa: Ampotoampoto III National Park , 7.91 km NW Ilakaka, -22.62944, 45.189, 919 m, savannah woodland (ARA) (CAS); Isalo IV National Park, 12 km SW Ranohira, -22.61472, 45.31304, 867 m, Bismarckia woodland (ARA) (CAS); Ampotoampoto IV National Park, 7.83 km NW Ilakaka, -22.62944, 45.1912, 923 m, savanna woodland (ARA) (CAS); Province Mahajanga: Ampijoroa National Park , 160 km N Maevatanana, deciduous forest, -16.31944, 46.81333, 43 m, deciduous forest (MG) (CAS). Province Toliara: Anosy Region , District of Amboasary , 58 km SW of Fort Dauphin, 8 km NW of Amboasary, Berenty Special Reserve , -25.00667, 46.30333, 85 m, Galery forest (MG) (CAS); Anosy Region , District of Fort-Dauphin , Andohaela National Park Parcelle II, Tsimelahy , 42 km W of Fort-Dauphin, -24.93683, 46.62667, 176 m, transition forest (Mike Irwin, Frank Parker, Rin’ha) (CAS); Anosy Region , Parc National d’Andohahela, Foret de Manatalinjo , -24.82505, 46.57811, 90 m, spiny forest/thicket (B.L. Fisher, F.A. Esteves et al.) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region , District of Betioky ; Beza Mahafaly Special reserve , Parcelle Belle vue 7 km W of Research Station, -23.68983, 44.5755, 177 m, spiny forest ( Rin’ha) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region , District of Betioky , 30 km E Betioky, Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve (around Research Station ), -23.6865, 44.591, 165 m, gallery dry deciduous forest (MG); Beza-Mahafaly, 27 km E Betioky, -23.65,4 4.63333, 135 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Foret de Mahavelo , Isantoria River , -24.75833, 46.15717, 110 m, spiny forest/thicket (FGAT) (CAS); Parc National d’Andohahela, Forêt d’ Ambohibory, 1.7 km 61° ENE Tsimelahy, 36.1 km 308° NW Tolagnaro, -24.93, 46.6455, 300 m, tropical dry forest (FGAT) (CAS); Parc National d’Andohahela, Foret de Manatalinjo , 33.6 km 63° ENE Amboasary, 7.6 km 99° E Hazofotsy , -24.81694, 46.61, 150 m, spiny forest/thicket (FGAT) (CAS); Parc National de Kirindy Mite , 16.3 km 127° SE Belo sur mer, -20.79528, 44.147, 80 m, tropical dry forest (FGAT) (CAS); Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa , Foret de Bemanateza , 20.7 km 81° E Efoetse , 23.0 km 131° SE Beheloka, -23.99222, 43.88067, 90 m, spiny forest/thicket (FGAT) (CAS); Beza Mahafaly Reserve , near research station, Parcel I, -23.6865, 44.591, 165 m, dry deciduous forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Beza Mahafaly Reserve , near Bellevue, Parcel II, -23.68983, 44.5755, 180 m, spiny forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Andohahela National Park, Tsimelahy - Parcel II, transitional forest, -24.93683, 46.62667, 180 m, transitional forest (M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, R. Harin’Hala) (CAS) .

Figures

Figure 10. Morphological character of minor and major workers of C. repens species group A, B minor worker of Camponotus repens (CASENT 0217300), head in full-face view and body in lateral view C head of major worker of C. jjacquia (CASENT 0217295) D minor worker of C. jjacquia (CASENT 0445276).

Figure 45. Mesosoma in lateral view A C. Camponotus jjacquia (CASENT 0445276) B C. tsimelahy (CASENT 0446651).

Figure 66. Camponotus jjacquia minor worker (CASENT 0445276) 1 body in lateral view 2 head in full-face view 3 body in dorsal view.

Figure 72. Distribution map of C. repens species group A C. claveri B C. ihazofotsy C C. jjacquia D C. tsimelahy and C. robustus species group E C. zoro