Camponotus ivadia, 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 ivadia sp. nov.

Figures 9D , 50C, D , 65

Holotype worker.

Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Forêt d’ Ampondrabe, 26.3 km 10° NNE Daraina, tropical dry forest, on low vegetation, -12.97, 49.7, 175 m, 04 November 2009 (BLF) collection code: BLF10105, specimen code: CASENT0498634 (CAS). Paratype. One worker with same data as holotype but specimen coded as CASENT0498635 (CAS).

Worker diagnosis.

Integument dark brown, apparently shiny; hairs on mesosoma and petiole blunt-tipped; fine, pointed hairs on head and gastral dorsum; anterior clypeal margin with straight rectangular lobe; dorsal outline of mesosoma nearly evenly arcuate; petiole higher than long.

Description of minor worker.

Medium-sized species. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 1.21 ± 0.19, 1.13-1.30). In full-face view, head almost quadrate, with feebly convex posterior and lateral border (CWb/CL: 0.35 ± 0.03, 0.33-0.36). Eyes elliptical, placed next to the lateral margins of head (PoOC/CL: 0.10 ± 0.01, 0.10-0.11). Mandibles triangular with six teeth. Anterior clypeal margin angularly produced, with straight lateral border and rounded anterolateral corner. Antennal scape long, surpassing the occipital corner by the length of two basal funiculi (SL/CS: 0.39 ± 0.02, 0.38-0.40). In lateral view, pronotum with short anterolateral margination, mesosoma moderately convex, propodeum angular in profile, with unequal basal and declivitous faces, each straight in profile and meeting at a rounded obtuse angle (MW/ML: 0.21 ± 0.03, 0.19-0.22; MPH/ML: 0.16 ± 0.01, 0.16-0.17). In lateral view, petiole rather narrow, its anterior face convex and its posterior face flattened. Body finely imbricate. Hairs whitish; enlarged, whitish hairs with blunt tip on mesonotum, propodeum, and petiolar dorsum; filiform, pointed, grayish hair on head, pronotum, and gastral segment; pubescence white, short, and more abundant across entire dorsum. Head, mesosoma and gaster dark brown, femora, tibia, and funiculi brown, scape and basitarsi slightly lighter.

Description of major worker.

Characteristics of minor workers, except: head as long as wide, posterior borders medially concave and subparallel, lateral sides diverging apically (CS: 1.93; CWb/CL: 0.93). Eyes circular, placed dorsally in the middle of the lateral borders (PoOC/CL: 0.28). Anterior clypeal margin forms a short, rounded, rectangular lobe, slightly concave medially (ClyL/GPD: 0.84). Antennal scape short, just reaching the occipital border (SL/CS: 0.69). Sculpture, pilosity, and color as in minor worker.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus ivadia has thus far been collected only in the Forêt d’ Ampondrabe within Ankarana Reserve, a region with tropical dry forest located in the northern portion of Madagascar (Fig. 70F ). All specimens were collected by beating vegetation.

Discussion.

This species is easily recognized within the Camponotus madagascarensis group as one of few back and shiny species with white standing pubescence.

Etymology.

The species epithet Camponotus ivadia is derived from the low vegetation microhabitat it prefers.

Additional material examined.

Province Antsiranana: Rés. Ankarana, 7 km SE Matsaborimanga, -12.9, 49.11667, 150 m, tropical dry forest (PSW) (PSWC); Forêt d’ Ampondrabe, 26.3 km 10° NNE Daraina, -12.97, 49.7, 175 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS).

Figures

Figure 9. Morphological character of minor and major workers of C. madagascarensis species group A, B head in full-face view of minor worker of C. madagascarensis (CASENT 0125551) C head of major worker of C. voeltzkowii (CASENT 0217295) D minor worker of C. ivadia (CASENT 0498634).

Figure 50. Head in full-face view and mesosoma in lateral view A, B C. voeltzkowii (CASENT 0121619) C, D C. ivadia (CASENT 0498634).

Figure 65. Camponotus ivadia minor worker (CASENT 0498634) 1 body in lateral view 2 head in full-face view 3 body in dorsal view.

Figure 70. Distribution maps of C. antsaraingy species group A C. antsaraingy; C. efitra species group B C. chrislaini, C. ellioti species group C C. ellioti. D C. andrianjaka. E C. maintilany and C. madagascarensis species group F C. ivadia