Camponotus sp.

Dhadwal, Tarun & Bharti, Himender, 2023, Two new species of the genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with five new records from India, European Journal of Taxonomy 901 (1), pp. 1-51 : 23-25

Camponotus sp. 101

Fig. 14

Diagnosis

This species is remarkably distinct from other Indian species by the following combination of characters: petiole nodiform; in dorsal view, first and second gastral tergite with two white bands; half of the coxal margin, trochanter and distal margin of the femur with white bands; head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster very feebly striated; clypeus with a median keel; mandibles feebly longitudinally rugulose and densely punctated; whole body shiny.

Material examined

INDIA • 1 worker; West Bengal, Chapramari Wild Life Sanctuary ; 26.8746° N, 88.8550° E; elev. 200 m; 28 Jul. 2019; J. Singh leg.; Winkler extraction; PUAC T101 .

Measurements

Minor worker (n = 1)

HL 1.11; HW 0.96; EL 0.27; SL 0.87; PW 0.69; WL 1.35; MTL 0,72; HTL 0.87; PL 0.30; PH 0.27; GL 1.44; TL 2.85; CI 86; SI 90; REL 24; PrI 71.

Description

Minor worker ( Fig. 14 )

HABITUS. In full-face view, head oval, distinctly longer than broad (CI 86) with subparallel lateral sides and convex posterior margin of the head; clypeus broad and convex, anterior clypeal margin rounded; mandibles triangular; palp formula 5:3; eyes large and convex, placed laterally at mid-length of the head; antennae 12-segmented, scape long (SI 90), surpassing posterior margin of head by ¼ of its length. In dorsal view, mesosoma trapezoidal; promesonotal suture distinct; metanotal groove indistinct or feebly developed; pronotum broader (PrI 71) than rest of mesosoma; mesosoma convex in lateral view; propodeal declivity concave, propodeal spiracle small and circular; petiolar node longer than high, anterior and posterior faces parallel, dorsal surface rounded; tibia cylindrical; gaster large and oval.

SCULPTURE. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster very feebly striated; clypeus with a median keel; mandibles feebly longitudinally rugulose and densely punctated; whole body shiny.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. Body covered with very sparse, long, erect and sub-erect hairs; dense erect hairs present on anterior clypeal margin, mandibles and apex of gaster; appressed pubescence almost wanting or very sparse on the body but dense on antennae; ventral side of the hind tibia without spiny bristles, in addition to bristles, 4–5 short spines present near the apical spur.

COLOURATION. Head, mesosoma and petiole brownish to dark brown; dorsal surface of first and second gastral tergite have alternate white or black bands, remaining gastral tergites blackish in colour; half of the coxal margin, trochanter and distal margin of the femur with white bands, remaining appendages brownish in colour and antennae light brownish.

Habitat

The species was collected by Winkler extraction. The ground in the collection area was almost dry and covered with leaf litter. The average daily temperature was 32°C.

Relevance

Under this name, we record and describe an unidentified form that closely resembles the Malagasy C. maculiventris Emery, 1985 and does not correspond to any species already known in India. We collected a single worker belonging to this form, whose full identification and naming will require further investigation beyond this paper.

Figures

Fig. 14. Camponotus sp. 101, minor worker (PUAC T101). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.