Camponotus vano sp. nov.

Figs 19B, 77

Holotype worker.

Madagascar: Province Toamasina: PN Zahamena, Onibe River, -17.75908, 48.85468, 780 m, rainforest, beating low vegetation, 22 Feb 2009 (B.L. Fisher, Malagasy Arthropod Team) collection code: BLF22341, specimen code: CASENT0217316 (CAS).

Paratypes.

2 minor workers and 1 major worker with same data as holotype but respectively specimen coded as: CASENT0077651, CASENT0840785, CASENT0152085 (PBZT, CAS).

Additional material examined.

Madagascar: Toamasina: PN Zahamena, Onibe River, -17.75908, 48.85468, 780 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher, Malagasy Arthropod Team) (CAS); Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana, -18.80388, 48.40506, 1013 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS) .

Diagnosis.

Lateral cephalic margins approximately parallel in full-face view; two apical teeth of mandibles closely spaced; lateral cephalic margin posterior to eye level without erect hairs; antennal scape covered with appressed hairs; mesosoma very low and long; propodeal dorsum at least four times as long as declivity; petiole nodelike.

Description.

Minor worker. With head in full-face view, lateral margins anterior to eye level parallel, posteriorly rounding evenly towards a rear margin that is somewhat necked; eye protruding and large (EL/CL: 0.29), breaking lateral cephalic margin, location of its posterior margin at posterior 1/3 of head (PoOc/CL: 0.34); frontal carinae widely opened (FR/CS: 0.29 ± 0.00; 0.29-0.30), posteriorly parallel; clypeus with blunt or poorly defined anterolateral angle, anteromedian margin broadly convex; two apical teeth of mandible closely spaced; antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 1.68 ± 0.03; 1.66-1.70). Mesosoma low and long (MPH/ML: 0.29 ± 0.02; 0.28-0.31), promesonotum slightly convex, mesonotum and propodeum more or less flat; metanotal groove feebly visible, propodeal dorsum rounding to declivity, propodeal dorsum four times as long as declivity. Petiole nodelike, with dorsal margin inclined posteriorly and rounding to anterior margin; tibia of hind leg rounded axially, without basal twist.

First and second gastral tergites without a pair of white spots; erect hairs on lateral margin of head present anterior to eye level and absent behind eye level; posterior margin of head with two erect hairs; antennal scape covered with appressed hairs; junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity with a pair of erect hairs.

Major worker. Differing from minor worker in the following characters: enlarged, elongate, and rectangular head (CS: 1.67; CWb/CL: 0.64) with slightly concave posterior margin; two apical teeth of mandible normally spaced; distal 1/3 of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; robust, short, and high mesosoma, metanotum distinctly visible, propodeal dorsum almost 3 × as long as more vertical declivity, their junction forming a blunt angle; with more pairs of erect hairs. Head dark brown, body color pale brown, propodeum much darker.

Distribution and biology.

A species endemic to Madagascar, C. vano is geographically restricted to the PN Zahamena and the Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia in humid forests in the east of the island (Fig. 77D). Collection data indicate that the species is arboreal; nests have been found in dead bamboo on the ground, while workers have been found foraging on lower vegetation.

Discussion.

See discussion under C. radamae .

Camponotus vano was not included in the NC-clustering analysis due to an inadequate number of minor workers. However, its qualitative morphological traits are sufficient to supports its status as a real species.

Etymology.

The species name Camponotus vano is a non-Latin singular noun used in apposition and refers to the Malagasy name for “heron” . It refers to the elongate body form of the species.