Camponotus edmondi Andre

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 : 111-114

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Camponotus edmondi Andre Figures 14B, 15B, 16A, 23, 38

Camponotus edmondi André, 1887: 281. Lectotype minor worker, present designation, Toamasina (=Tamatave), Madagascar (E. André), AntWeb CASENT0101384 (MHNG) [examined]. [Combination in Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) : Forel 1914: 270; in Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) : Emery 1920: 258; Wheeler 1922: 1049; in Camponotus (Myrmisolepis) : Santschi 1921: 310. in Camponotus (Myrmepinotus) : Emery 1925: 127; Bolton 1995: 97, 131].

Camponotus edmondi var. ernesti Forel, 1891: 50. Syntype major worker, Madagascar, Toamasina Province, 30 miles northwest of Toamasina (=Tamatave) ( O’Swald) [not examined]. [Combination in Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) : Wheeler 1922: 1049; in Camponotus (Myrmepinotus) : Emery 1925: 127; Bolton 1995: 97]. Syn. n.

Additional material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Province Antsiranana: Forêt Ambanitaza, 26.1 km 347° Antalaha, -14.67933, 50.18367, 240 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Forêt Ambanitaza, 26.1 km 347° Antalaha, -14.67933, 50.18367, 240 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Vohemar, -13.37723, 50.0205, 25 m, cultivated land, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Province Fianarantsoa: Manakara, -22.14817, 48.02267, 10 m, urban gardens, coastal Casuarina equisetifolia , (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Province Toamasina: Antongil Bay (Mocquerys) (MSNG); Brickaville, -18.82183, 49.07017, 24 m, urban/garden, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Sainte Marie (MNHN); Ile Sainte Marie, Forêt Ambohidena, 22.8 km 44° Ambodifotatra, -16.82433, 49.96417, 20 m, littoral rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Parcelle E3 Tampolo, -17.28104, 49.43012, 10 m, littoral forest, (Malagasy ant team) (CASC); Station Forestière Tampolo, 10 km NNE Fenoarivo Atsinanana, -17.2825, 49.43, 10 m, littoral rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Reserve Betampona, Camp Vohitsivalana, 37.1 km 338° Toamasina, -17.88667, 49.2025, 520 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); 11 km SE Ampasimanolotra, Brickaville, -18.9, 49.13333, 5 m, littoral rainforest, (P.S. Ward) (PSWC); Nosy Mangabe, -15.5, 49.76667, 5m, littoral vegetation, (P.S. Ward) (PSWC); Province Toliara: 2.7 km WNW 302° Ste. Luce, -24.77167, 47.17167, 20 m, littoral rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) (CASC); Libanona beach, Tolagnaro, -25.03883, 46.996, 20 m, coastal scrub, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC). COMOROS: Anjouan: Mount Ntringui, -12.19865, 44.41866, 740 m, montane forest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); -12.18771, 44.35929, 65 m, coastal roadside, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); -12.18771, 44.35929, 65 m, coastal roadside, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); -12.30537, 44.45031, 500 m, along roadside, mango, banana, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Grande Comore: Mouadja, -11.47435, 43.3004, 350 m, coastal scrub, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Itoundzou, -11.63136, 43.30434, 635 m, secondary rainforest along roadside, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Pidjani, -11.75447, 43.45148, 35 m, coastal scrub, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Mouadja, -11.47435, 43.3004, 350 m, coastal scrub, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); MAYOTTE: Dapani, -12.96279, 45.15037, 135 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Reserve forestière Sohoa, -12.81237, 45.10476, 10 m, coastal dry forest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Mont Combani, -12.80632, 45.15314, 370 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Mont Benara, -12.87585, 45.15672, 425 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Baie de Tsingoni, -12.7926, 45.10764, 5 m, mangrove, coastal scrub, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Mont Chongui, -12.95776, 45.13403, 470 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Mont Chongui, -12.95903, 45.13411, 380 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Mont Chongui summit, -12.99567, 45.13428, 550 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); Coconi, DAF Campus, -12.83333, 45.13333, (R. Jocqué) (CASC); Dziani Karihani, -12.78333, 45.11667, forest (R.Jocque & G.DeSmet) (CASC); Mont Combani, -12.80632, 45.15314, 370 m, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC).

Diagnosis.

In profile, anterior and posterior margins of petiolar node convex; in profile, propodeal dorsum and declivitous surface separated by blunt angle; in dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long; mesopleuron with propodeal surface distinctly wider together than lateral portion of pronotum; in profile, propodeal dorsum roughly as long as declivitous margin; dorsum of head and mesosoma densely and finely reticulate-punctate; erect hairs lacking on dorsum of pronotum; distance between meso-metapleural suture and dorsolateral margin of propodeum largest near the junction of dorsolateral carina to declivitous surface; in dorsal view, lateral margins of mesonotum roughly straight and gradually converging posteriorly; width of propodeum at the metanotal groove less than half the maximum width of mesonotum; in full-face view, anteromedian margin of clypeus truncate.

Description.

Minor worker (Figs 14B, 15B, 16A, 23). Head elongate in full-face view (CWb/CL: 0.87-0.93), slightly diverging posteriorly; posterior margin convex medially and more or less straight near posterolateral corners; lateral margins slightly convex. Eyes larger relative to head size (EL/CS: 0.24-0.28), their anterior level located at about mid-length of head (PrOc/CL: 0.52-0.58). Anterior clypeal margin truncate; posterior margin weakly notched medially. Mandible triangular, apical margin armed with six sharp teeth which reduce in size towards basal angle of the mandible. Antennal scape short (SL/CS: 0.89-1.06), apical third of its length surpassing posterior cephalic margin. Pronotum dorsally flat, anterodorsal angle marginate. In dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long, posterodorsal corner rounded. In lateral view, propodeum not strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, dorsum strongly inclined posteriorly and separated with declivitous surface by blunt angle; mesopleuron with propodeal surface together distinctly wider than lateral portion of pronotum; propodeal dorsum and lateral surface separated by blunt margination; propodeal spiracle on declivitous surface. Coxa of foreleg larger than width of meso-metapleuron. In profile, anterior margin of petiolar node convex, posterior margin inclined posteriorly and then approximately vertically straight to posteroventral angle. Constriction between abdominal segments III and IV lacking.

Dorsum of head and mesosoma finely and densely reticulate punctate; lateral surfaces of head finely and densely reticulate punctate with much smaller punctures. Imbricate sculpture on gastral tergites. Mandible smooth and shiny with sparse piligerous punctures. Whitish hairs lacking on pronotum; several pairs on head dorsum from clypeus, frontal lobe to posterior portion of head; one pair on mesonotum; few pairs arranged transversely at mid-height of posterior face of propodeum; hairs arranged near lateral and dorsal borders of posterior face of petiolar node; scattered and much shorter erect hairs arranged near anterior and posterior margins of each gastral tergite; pubescence not abundant. Color of body, femur, and tibia black; trochanter and tarsi brown to light brown; antenna brown basally and dark brown apically.

Major worker. With characteristics of minor worker, except: head in full-face view feebly longer than broad (CWb/CL: 0.94-1) and slightly decreasing in width towards the base of mandibles; posterior margin slightly convex; sides broadly convex. Eyes smaller relative to head size (EL/CS: 0.22-0.24), their posterior level located roughly at posterior fourth of head (PoOc/CL: 0.27-0.29). Anterior margin of clypeus truncate and slightly concave. Antennal scape slightly extending beyond posterior cephalic margin. In dorsal view, metanotum visible between metanotal groove and propodeum. In profile, petiolar node much more flattened anteroposteriorly. Head with scattered piligerous punctures laterally near base of mandibles. Dorsum of pronotum with few pairs of whitish erect hairs.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus edmondi is known from Madagascar, Comore, and Mayotte Islands (Fig. 38). In Madagascar, it is generally distributed along the eastern littoral forests and in human-modified habitats. In neighboring islands, the species occurs also in coastal forests and disturbed forest habitats. Rarely is it found in rainforest between 130 m and 650 m of altitude. Foraging is done arboreally and nests sites are in dead twigs and branches above the ground.

Discussion.

Camponotus edmondi looks similar to Camponotus orombe and Camponotus tafo , but for Camponotus orombe there is no distinct angle separating the propodeal dorsum from the declivitous margin in profile, and the distance between the meso-metapleural suture and the dorsolateral margin of the propodeum remains the same along the dorsolateral carina of the propodeum. As in Camponotus tafo , the lateral margins of mesonotum are convex and converge strongly posteriorly while the width of the propodeum at the metanotal groove is more than half the maximum width of the mesonotum. Camponotus mifaka has numerous hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma.

Camponotus edmondi ernesti was created by Forel (1891) because of its smaller body size, finer sculpture, and the shape of its propodeum. We were not able to examine the type specimen, but based on the observation of the specimens belonging to this subspecies, collected by Mocquerys in the Antongil Bay, and located at MSNG (Italy), there is no strong distinctive morphological traits between the members of the subspecies and those of Camponotus edmondi . Therefore, Camponotus edmondi ernesti is synonymized under Camponotus edmondi . As Camponotus edmondi is more or less widespread in the littoral forests of the Malagasy region, morphological variation within this species can be expected.

The identity of Camponotus edmondi based on the traditional qualitative taxonomy has been detected by the multivariate morphometrics. The grouping of the samples of Camponotus edmondi generated by NC-clustering method is corroborated by confirmatory LDA with a classification success of 100%.