Camponotus andrianjaka, 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 andrianjaka sp. nov.

Figures 8D , 39B , 61A-C , 62

Holotype worker.

Madagascar, Province Fianarantsoa, Isalo III National Parc, 12.02 km SW Ranohira, -22.6158, 45.31084, 870 m, Bismarckia woodland, ex soil, 15-24 February 2010 (ARA), collection code: ARA0306, specimen code: CASENT0243690 (CAS). Paratype. one worker with same data as holotype but specimen coded as CASENT0243954 (CAS).

Worker diagnosis.

Camponotus andrianjaka can be easily distinguished from other species of the Camponotus ellioti group by the following character set: body bicolored, head and mesosoma reddish brown, gaster dark brown to black; anterior clypeal margin rounded, not produced; propodeum dorsum slightly concave at the level of metanotal suture; petiole nodiform and surmounted with standing, whitish hairs on its posterior margin.

Description of minor worker.

Medium-sized species. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 0.84 ± 0.07; 0.81-0.88). In full-face view, head subovate, usually somewhat longer than broad, posterior cephalic margin roundly convex; lateral margin of head straight and tapering to front (CWb/CL: 0.31 ± 0.01, 0.30-0.32). Eyes subelliptical, protruding, its border smoothly aligned to lateral margins of head (PoOC/CL: 0.08 ± 0.01, 0.08-0.09). Mandibles triangular with six teeth. Clypeus carinate, anterior clypeal margin with rounded triangular projection (ClyL/GPD: 0.24 ± 0.01, 0.23-0.25). Antennal scape long, surpassing the occiput by the length of two basal funiculi (SL/CS: 0.36 ± 0.04, 0.35-0.38). In lateral view, mesosoma without anterolateral margination, promesonotum convex, mesopropodeal suture shallowly impressed, propodeum rather angulate with slightly concave basal and declivitous surface (MW/ML: 0.19 ± 0.02, 0.18-0.21, MPH/ML: 0.15 ± 0.01, 0.14-0.15). In lateral view, petiole nodiform, higher than long, its short anterior face rounding gradually to the convex posterior faces. Head, especially anterior portion, finely reticulate-areolate, gaster and mesosoma finely imbricate. Mandibles finely reticulate-punctate. Hairs whitish, one pair present on vertex, middle of mesonotum, and propodeum dorsum; three to four pairs on each side of lateral corner of propodeum; four pairs transversely arranged on petiolar posteromargin; ground pubescence delicate. Head and mesosoma reddish, legs light brown, basal face of first gastral segment light brown and the remainder of the segment dark brown to black.

Description of major worker.

Characteristics of minor workers, except: head as long as broad, with rather straight posterior and lateral borders (CS: 1.15 ± 0.05, 1.12-1.20, CWb/CL: 0.84 ± 0.01, 0.84-0.85). Eyes circular, placed dorsally next to lateral borders (PoOC/CL: 0.26 ± 0.03, 0.23-0.27). Anterior clypeal margin forms a rounded rectangular lobe (ClyL/GPD: 0.89 ± 0.05, 0.83-0.92). Antennal scape short, just reaching the occipital border (SL/CS: 0.70 ± 0.02, 0.69-0.72). Mesosoma the same as minor worker.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus andrianjaka is a very distinctive species that appears endemic to Bismarckia woodland, shrubland, Uapaca woodland, and savannah woodland in the southern part of Madagascar (Fig. 70D ). It can be found also on eucalyptus plantations and grassland. Altitude: 1300-1987 m.

Discussion.

At first sight, Camponotus andrianjaka may be confused with another new species, Camponotus MG132, subgenus Camponotus Myrmonesites , but can be separated easily with mesonotum that is gradually rounded in dorsal view; petiole higher than long, its dorsolateral margin surmounted with white hairs; presence of ground pubescence; and gaster all black. In addition, C. MG132 has been collected from rainforest and montane rainforest and absent from woodland.

Etymology.

This new species is named after the collector Andrianjaka Ravelomanana.

Additional material examined.

Province Fianarantsoa: Ampandravelo III Non Protected Area , 10.72 km NE Ranohira, -22.53944, 45.51497, 869 m, shrubland (ARA) (CAS); Ampangabe III Non Protected Area , 21.26 km W Itremo, -20.6125, 46.60883, 1412 m, savannah woodland (ARA) (CAS); Ampangabe VI Non Protected Area , 21.16 km W Itremo, -20.61444, 46.6104, 1379 m, shrubland (ARA) (CAS); Ampangabe VII Non Protected Area , 21.2 km W Itremo, -20.61417, 46.60989, 1420 m, shrubland (ARA) (CAS); Ampotoampoto II National Parc, 8.07 km NW Ilakaka, -22.62806, 45.18843, 919 m, savannah woodland (ARA) (ATOL UCDC); Ampotoampoto III National Parc, 7.91 km NW Ilakaka, -22.62944, 45.189, 919 m, savannah woodland (ARA) (ATOL voucher CAS); Antohatsahomby III Non Protected Area , 22.79 km NW Itremo, -20.54806, 46.58599, 1499 m, Uapaca woodland (ARA) (CAS); Antohatsahomby V Non Protected Area, 22.63 km NW Itremo, -20.56722, 46.57923, 1726 m, Uapaca woodland (ARA) (CAS); Isalo III National Parc, 12.02 km SW Ranohira, -22.61583, 45.31084, 870 m, Bismarckia woodland (ARA) (CAS); Isalo IV National Parc, 12 km SW Ranohira, -22.61472, 45.31304, 867 m, Bismarckia woodland (ARA) (ATOL USNM); Isalo IV National Parc, 12 km SW Ranohira, -22.61472, 45.31304, 867 m, Bismarckia woodland (ARA) (CAS); Mampiarika IV Non Protected Area, 27.98 km SW Ambositra, -20.73528, 47.08382, 1486 m, Uapaca woodland (ARA) (ATOL CAS) .

Figures

Figure 8. Morphological character of minor and major workers of C. ellioti species group A head of minor worker of C. ellioti (CASENT 0450893) B minor worker of C. maintikibo in lateral view (CASENT 0062631) C head of major worker of C. maintikibo (CASENT 0062173) D minor worker of C. andrianjaka in lateral view (CASENT 0243690).

Figure 39. Mesosoma in lateral view A C. maintilany (CASENT 0120678) B C. andrianjaka (CASENT 0243690).

Figure 61. Camponotus andrianjaka minor worker (CASENT 0243690) 1 body in lateral view 2 head in full-face view 3 body in dorsal view.

Figure 62. A minor worker of C. andrianjaka (CASENT 0243690) B minor worker of C. MG 132 (CASENT 0188254).

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