Camponotus quadrinotatus Forel, 1886

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 : 25-27

Camponotus quadrinotatus Forel, 1886

Fig. 15

Camponotus marginatus var. quadrinotatus Forel, 1886: 142 .

Camponotus marginatus rubicolor Ruzsky, 1925: 42 (synonymized by Radchenko 1997: 704).

Camponotus quadrinotatus nigricolor Ruzsky, 1926: 109 (synonymized by Kuznetsov-Ugamsky 1928: 18; Bolton 1995: 119; Radchenko 1997: 704).

Camponotus marginatus quadrinotatus Dalla Torre 1893: 242 .

Camponotus fallax quadrinotatus – Forel 1907: 19.

Camponotus caryae quadrinotatus – Wheeler 1917: 29.

Camponotus quadrinotatus – Santschi 1925: 89 (m.)

Camponotus (Myrmentoma) quadrinotatus – Emery 1925: 118.

Diagnosis

Camponotus quarinotatus Forel, 1886 resembles C. keihitoi Forel, 1913 , but both species can be easily distinguished by the following combination of characters: in C. keihitoi (minor worker), the metanotal depression is distinct; pilosity is absent on the mesosoma and the petiole; the clypeal margin is transverse anteriorly. While in C. quarinotatus (minor worker),the metanotal depression is indistinct;the mesosoma and the petiole are pilose; the clypeal margin is convex anteriorly.

Material examined

INDIA • 10 workers; Himachal Pradesh, Solang ; 32.3219° N, 77.1496° E; elev. 3000 m; 15 Aug. 2019; T. Dhadwal leg.; hand picking method; PUAC T105 to T114 .

Measurements

Minor worker (n = 4)

HL 1.35–1.62; HW 1.14–1.26; EL 0.33–0.39; SL 1.35–1.59; PW 0.96–1.05; WL 1.95–2.25; MTL 1.20– 1.25; HTL 1.53–1.62; PL 0.48–0.60; PH 0.58–0.66; GL 2.01–2.43; TL 5.79–6.90; CI 77–84; SI 118– 126; REL 24–25; PrI 83–84.

Description

Minor worker ( Fig. 15 )

HABITUS. In full-face view, head subrectangular, longer than broad (CI 77–84) with convex posterior margin and subparallel lateral margins; clypeus carinate in the middle, clypeus margin anteriorly convex; mandibles with 5 teeth; eyes moderate in size, placed laterally over the mid-length of the head; antennae long, slender and 12-segmented, scape long (SI 118–126), surpassing posterior head margin by half of its length. In dorsal view, mesosoma broad and pronotum narrow (PrI 83–84) anteriorly; pro-mesonotal suture distinct and metanotal groove absent; mesonotum and propodeum compressed laterally; mesosoma does not form a single convexity in lateral view, convexity interrupted at propodeum being truncate; propodeal declivity steep and slightly concave; propodeal spiracle slit-like, placed below the level of propodeal declivity; petiole thick and biconvex; tibiae cylindrical; gaster subglobose.

SCULPTURE. Head, mesosoma and gaster minutely reticulated and shiny; mandibles rugose.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. Body sparsely pilose, with a few erect hairs on the vertex of the head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster; tibiae lacking a row of spiny bristles on the ventral edge, and with 3–4 suberect setae near apical spurs.

COLOURATION. Head, mesosoma and gaster black; in some workers 1 st and 2 nd gastral tergites having each a pair of yellowish or whitish markings, and the rest completely black.

Global distribution

China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan (type locality), Republic of Korea and Russian Federation.

Habitat

During the field survey, the species was collected from Solang, Himachal Pradesh. The nest was found under the stone, the colony was small and having few minor workers only. The area is mostly surrounded by Deodar and Pine trees, with an average daily temperature of 28°C.

Relevance

Camponotus quarinotatus Forel, 1886 represents a new record for India. Previously, this species was reported from China, North and South Korea, Japan and the Russian Federation.

Figures

Fig. 15. Camponotus quadrinotatus Forel, 1886, minor worker (PUAC T107). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.