Camponotus hova Forel, 1891

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2022, Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology, ZooKeys 1098, pp. 1-180 : 1

Camponotus hova Forel

Figs 18A , 58

Camponotus maculatus r. hova Forel, 1891: 35. Syntype workers and queen, Morondava côte ouest de Madagascar (Grandidier) (MHNG); 1 syntype major worker designated as lectotype, by present designation, AntWeb CASENT0101908 (MHNG) [examined]. [First available use of Camponotus rubripes maculatus Camponotus hova Forel, 1886b: 150; unavailable name]. Raised to species by Dalla Torre 1893: 235; Emery 1925: 85; Bolton 1995: 104.

Camponotus hova var. obscuratus Emery, 1925: 85. Syntype workers and male, SW Madagascar (Voeltzkow) (NHMB); 1 syntype minor worker designated as lectotype, by present designation, AntWeb CASENT0101110 (NHMB) [examined]. Paracletotype major worker with same data as lectotype but specimen coded as: CASENT0101109 (NHMB) [examined]. [First available use of Camponotus maculatus radamae obscurata Forel, 1907: 89; Camponotus maculatus hova obscurior Santschi, 1911a: 132; unavailable names]. Syn. nov.

Additional material examined.

Europa Island: Europa Island (Voeltzkow) (MHNG); -22.34775, 40.37041, 10 m, spiny forest on coral (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); -22.33909, 40.38752, 8 m, coastal dune vegetation (B.L. Fisher) (CAS). Juan De Nova Island: -17.04873, 42.71009, 10 m, littoral vegetation (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); -17.06182, 42.72513, 5 m, scrub on coastal karst (B.L. Fisher) (CAS). Madagascar: Antananarivo: Analamanga Region, District of Ankazobe, Ambohitantely, 46 km NE of Ankazobe, -18.198, 47.2815, 701 m, Forêt sclerophylle, ( Rin’ha, Fanja) (CAS), Beapombo I Non Protected Area, 22.51 km SW Antsirabe, -20.06892, 47.00404, 1663 m, Savannah grassland (A. Ravelomanana) (CAS). Antsiranana: Antsiranana II Pref: Antsahampano S.-Pref: Montagne d’Ambre. Site MD1, -12.52765, 49.17235, 1049 m, in Commelina regrowth on path next to degraded primary riparian rainforest (D. Lees, R. Ranaivosolo & P. Razafindraibe) (CAS); Montagne des Français, 7.2 km 142° SE Antsiranana (=Diego Suarez), -12.32278, 49.33817, 180 m, tropical dry forest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CAS); Nosy Be, RNI Lokobe, 6.3 km 112° ESE Hellville, -13.41933, 48.33117, 30 m, rainforest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CAS); Nosy Faly, -13.36435, 48.49137, 40 m, open secondary vegetation (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS); Andranomatàna, 15.2 km NW Ambilobe, -13.14965, 48.91765, 28 m, sugar cane plantation (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS); Forêt d’Antsahabe, 11.4 km 275° W Daraina, -13.21167, 49.55667, 550 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Forêt d’Analabe, 30.0 km 72° ENE Daraina, -13.08333, 49.90833, 30 m, littoral rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Forêt de Binara, 7.5 km 230° SW Daraina, -13.255, 49.61667, 375 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Réserve Analamerana, 16.7 km 123° Anivorano-Nord, -12.80467, 49.37383, 225 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Réserve Analamerana, 28.4 km 99° Anivorano-Nord, -12.74667, 49.49483, 60 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); RS Ambre, 3.5 km 235° SW Sakaramy, -12.46889, 49.24217, 325 m, cultivated land (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CAS); Sakaramy, -12.44131, 49.22723, 365 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS); Sakaramy, -12.44071, 49.23061, 350 m, grassland (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS); Sakaramy, -12.44275, 49.2326, 313 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS); Sakaramy 07 km N of Joffre Ville, -12.33333, 49.25, 360 m, Low rain forest in open area (Mike, Frank, Rin’ha) (CAS); 7 km N Joffreville [camp 2 of Fisher], -12.33333, 49.25, 360 m, in dry forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); PN Montagne d’Ambre [Petit Lac road], -12.533333, 49.166667, 1125 m, rainforest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Montaigne Francais, 150 m, along forested limestone ridge (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); PN Montagne d’Ambre [1st campsite], 960 m, rainforest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); PN Montagne d’Ambre [lemur trail], 975 m, rainforest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Andilana, Nosy Bé, -13.25, 48.18333, <5 m (D.M. Olson) (CAS). Mahajanga: PN Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa SF, 160 km N Maevatanana, deciduous forest, -16.31944, 46.81333, 43 m, deciduous forest, (Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS), Boeny Region, District of Soalala, Beaboaly Bamboo forest Station 10 km SW of Soalala, 04 km of Baly village, -16.04533, 48.804, 9 m, Bamboo Forêt (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region, District of Marovoay, PN Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa SF, 160 km North of Maevatanana on RN 04, -16.31933, 46.81333, 42 m, Deciduous forest, (Rinha, Mike) (CAS); Melaky Region, District of Maintirano, Asondrodava dry forest against dune 15 km N of Maintirano, -17.96533, 44.0355, 16 m, dry forest (Irwin, Rinha) (CAS); Melaky Region, District of Maintirano, Ampasy 50 km E of Maintirano, -18.004, 44.452, 85 m, dry forest (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Melaky Region; District of Besalampy marofototra palm forest, 17 km W of Besalampy, -16.72167, 44.42367, 10 m, Palm trees on sand (Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); PN Baie de Baly, 12.4 km 337° NNW Soalala, -16.01, 45.265, 10 m, tropical dry forest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CAS); PN Tsingy de Bemaraha, 3.4 km 93° E Bekopaka, Tombeau Vazimba, -19.14194, 44.828, 50 m, tropical dry forest (Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team) (CAS); Sofia Region, District of Port-Berger, Ambovomamy 20 km N of Port-Berger, -15.45117, 47.61333, 86 m, secondary forest on white sandy area (Mike, Frank, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region, District of Soalala, Namoroka village, Befatika Andranovory 7 km NW of Vilanandro village, -16.46967, 45.39133, 120 m, Dense dry forest (Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region, District of Soalala, Beaboaly Bamboo forest Station 10 km SW of Soalala, 04 km of Baly village, -16.04533, 48.804, 9 m, Bamboo Forêt (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region, District of Marovoay, PN Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa SF, 160 km North of Maevatanana on RN 04, -16.31933, 46.81333, 42 m, deciduous forest (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region, District of Soalala Analamanitra forest, 14 km SW of Mitsinjo, -16.7, 45.7, 19 m, dense dry forest (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region; District of Soalala, Anjiaabo. 10 km SW of Soalala, 04 km of Baly village, -16.059, 45.27417, 7 m, stabilise dune (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Boeny Region; District of Soalala, Namoroka 53 km of Soalala, Ambatofolaka dry forest 3 km N of Vilanandro villlage, -16.47333, 45.39133, 105 m, dense dry forest in the mud (Mike, Rin’ha) (CAS); Forêt de Tsimembo, 8.7 km 336° NNW Soatana, -19.02139, 44.44067, 20 m, tropical dry forest (Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team) (CAS); Melaky Region, District of Maintirano, Asondrodava dry forest against dune 15 km N of Maintirano, -17.96533, 44.0355, 16 m, dry forest (Irwin, Rinha) (CAS); Melaky Region, District of Maintirano, Asondrodava dry forest, 15 km N of Maintirano, -17.96533, 44.0355, 6 m, dry forest (Irwin, Rinha) (CAS); Sofia Region, District of Port-Berger, Ambovomamy 20 km N of Port-Berger, -15.45117, 47.61333, 86 m, secondary forest on white sandy area (Mike, Frank, Rin’ha) (CAS). Toliara: Androy Region, District of Tsihombe, 74 km S of Tsihombe, RS Cap Ste Marie, -25.58767, 45.163, 36 m, spiny bush ( Rin’Ha, Mike) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region, District of Betioky; RS Beza Mahafaly Parcelle Belle vue 07 km W of Research Station, -23.68983, 44.5755, 177 m, spiny forest, ( Rin’ha) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region, District of Betioky, 30 km E Betioky, RS Beza Mahafaly (Around Research Station), -23.6865, 44.591, 165 m, Galery dry deciduous forest ( Rin’Ha, Mike) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region, District of Tulear II, Mikea deciduous dry forest 3 km N Andranomavo village, -22.90367, 43.4755, 30 m, Deciduous dry forest ( Rin’Ha, Mike) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region, District of Tulear II, Mikea deciduous dry forest 3 km N Andranomavo village, -22.90367, 43.4755, 30 m, Deciduous dry forest ( Rin’Ha, Mike) (CAS); Atsimo-Andrefana Region, -23.45314, 43.76448, 20 m, coastal spiny bush on sandy soil (B.L. Fisher, F.A. Esteves et al.) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region, District of Tulear II, Mikea spiny forest 8 km N Andranomavo village, -22.91333, 43.39883, 37 m, spiny forest ( Rin’Ha, Mike) (CAS); Atsimo-Andrefana Region, -23.45314, 43.76448, 20 m, coastal spiny bush on sandy soil (B.L. Fisher, F.A. Esteves et al.) (CAS); Atsimo-Andrefana Region, Sarodrano, -23.52243, 43.74031, 15 m, Didiereaceae forest on sand dunes (B.L. Fisher, F.A. Esteves et al.) (CAS); FC Analavelona, 33.2 km 344° NNW Mahaboboka, -22.64333, 44.17167, 1300 m, montane rainforest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) (CAS); Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131° SE Ankidranoka, -22.23306, 43.36633, 80 m, tropical dry forest (Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team) (CAS); Mahafaly, near Eloeste, By Lac Tsimanampetsoa, -24.16667, 43.75 (V. & B. Roth) (CAS); Menabe Region, District of Morondava, Beroboka village 45 km NE of Morondava, Antsarongaza dry forest 07.5 km E of Beroboka, -19.9775, 44.66633, 50 m, dry forest (M. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); Menabe Region, District of Morondava, Beroboka village 45 km NE of Morondava, Antsarongaza galery forest 07 km E of Beroboka, -19.9775, 44.66533, 45 m, Galery forest (M. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); PN Tsimanampetsotsa, 6.7 km 130° SE Efoetse, 23.0 km 175° S Beheloka, -24.10056, 43.76, 25 m, spiny forest/thicket (Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team) (CAS); RS Beza Mahafaly, Parcel 1, -23.65, 44.63333, 130 m, tropical dry forest (P.S. Ward) (CAS); PN Andohaela Tsimelahy, -24.93683, 46.62667, 180 m, transition forest (M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Atsimo Andrefana Region, District of Tulear II,Tsifota 20 km N of Manombo, -22.818, 43.37267, 15 m, spiny forest (M.E. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); Itampolo, Sud A Sud Hotel, malaise in dune vegetation, -24.6905, 43.944, 12 m, littoral bush (M.E. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); Mikea Forest, deciduous dry forest, -22.90367, 43.4755, 30 m, deciduous dry forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Mikea Forest, spiny forest, -22.91333, 43.48222, 37 m, spiny forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Parcel I, RS Beza Mahafaly, near research station, -23.6865, 44.591, 165 m, dry deciduous forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); PN Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Forest, malaise across trail at escarpment base, -24.0485, 43.75233, 120 m, dense dry forest (M.E. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); Ambohimahavelona village 33 km NE of Tulear, Andoharano dry forest, -23.44083, 43.89967, 46 m, dry forest (M.E. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS); PN Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Forest, malaise across trail at escarpment base, -24.0485, 43.75233, 120 m, dense dry forest (M.E. Irwin, Rin’ha) (CAS).

Diagnosis.

Lateral cephalic margins approximately parallel in full-face view; two apical teeth of mandible closely spaced; antennal scape covered with erect hairs.

Description.

Minor worker. With head in full-face view, lateral margins of head anterior to level of eye parallel and converging progressively to posterior margin; head sides behind eye level ca. 1/4 length of head (PoOc/CL: 0.25 ± 0.02; 0.22-0.28). Eyes protruding and large (EL/CS: 0.30 ± 0.01; 0.28-0.32), breaking lateral cephalic margins; frontal carinae not widely diverging posteriorly (FR/CS: 0.27 ± 0.01; 0.24-0.30), posteriorly parallel; clypeus with anterolateral angle and triangular or convex anteromedian margin; two apical teeth of mandible closely spaced; antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 1.53 ± 0.08; 1.41-1.83). Dorsum of mesosoma highly convex, mesonotum with posterior portion flat immediately anterior to metanotal groove; metanotal groove weakly visible; propodeal dorsum almost straight, junction to declivity with blunt angle; declivity height 1/2 length of propodeal dorsum; petiolar node nodiform with dorsal margin inclined posteriorly and forming a blunt angle to anterior face; anterior face of petiolar node 1/3 height of posterior face. Tibia of hind leg rounded axially and not twisted basally.

First and second gastral tergites without a pair of white spots; lateral margin of head with erect hairs; posterior margin of head with more than six erect hairs. Antennal scape covered with suberect hairs inclined ca. 30° and abundant pubescence. Posterodorsal angle of propodeum with a pair of erect hairs.

Major worker. Differing from minor worker in the following characters: enlarged head (CS: 3.17 ± 0.16; 2.94-3.48; CWb/CL: 0.94 ± 0.03; 0.89-1.01) with broadly concave posterior margin; two apical teeth of mandible normally spaced; apical 1/4 of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; robust mesosoma, metanotum distinctly visible, propodeal dorsum joining declivity in broad angle; dorsal margin of petiolar node inclined posteriorly from shorter anterior face towards much longer posterior face. More pairs of erect hairs on promesonotum, junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity, and posterodorsal margin of petiolar node.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus hova is a widespread species that occurs in dry forests of the west from the north throughout the center and the southwest of Madagascar, and is also known from Juan de Nova, Europa, and Mayotte islands (Fig. 58D ). On these small islands, members of this species occupy coastal spiny bush on sand, spiny forest on coral, and coastal dune vegetation. This species is also capable of colonizing human-modified habitats. Workers are found foraging on the ground and nest sites are located in rotten logs, in the ground, and in rot pockets above the ground.

Discussion.

Camponotus hova shows significant morphological variation across its wide distribution in Madagascar and nearby islands. Two variants are recognized according to the forms of the dorsum of the propodeum, but these merge gradually into the typical form through their geographical distribution.

Variant 1. Workers of this variant express the typical form by which the posterior 1/2 of the mesonotum to the posterodorsal corner of the propodeum is straight in profile. The petiolar node is characterized by the posterior inclination of the dorsal margin toward the anterior face, which is ca. 1/3 the height of the posterior face. This variant occupies the southwest region of Madagascar and surrounding islands. Integument is brown to dark brown or blackish brown in color.

Variant 2. This variant is known from the northwestern part of Madagascar and is characterized by the presence of a slightly broad concavity from the posterior 1/2 of mesonotum to posterodorsal corner of propodeum in lateral view and by the pale yellow to reddish orange color the body. Its petiole is nodiform, and the dorsal margin rounds to the anterior face, which is 1/2 height of the posterior face.

Based on the original description of C. hova (Forel, 1891) and C. hova obscuratus (Emery, 1925) and the examination of their respective syntype specimens, there are no distinctive characters that were found to differentiate both taxa. The observation of the collection obtained from the recent survey of the Malagasy ant fauna indicates that the distinctive characters of C. hova obscuratus vary within and across the populations of C. hova . Therefore, it is reasonable to place safely C. hova obscuratus in synonymy here.

Although qualitative morphology recognized the two variants in C. hova , the exploratory analysis of NC-clustering did not completely detect their distinction. The combination of the two variants is classified by confirmatory LDA at 100% of success.

Figures

Figure 18. Head in full-face view A C. hova (CASENT 0055710) B C. radamae (CASENT 0217307).

Figure 58. Camponotus hova A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of minor worker CASENT 0055710 D distribution map.