Camponotus karsti, Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022

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 karsti sp. nov.

Figs 5A , 62

Holotype worker.

Madagascar: Province Antsiranana: RS Ankarana, 7 km SE Matsaborimanga, -12.9, 49.11667, 150 m, tropical dry forest, low vegetation, 27 Nov 1990 (P.S. Ward) collection code: PSW11005, specimen code: CASENT0217292 ( CAS).

Paratype.

1 minor worker with same data as holotype but respectively specimen coded as: CASENT0837940 ( CAS).

Additional material examined.

Madagascar: Antsiranana: RS Ankarana, 7 km SE Matsaborimanga, -12.9, 49.11667, 150 m, Dry Forest , (P.S. Ward) ( CAS) .

Diagnosis.

With head in full-face view, eye not breaking lateral cephalic margin; mesonotum short and lacking constriction; promesonotum an even convexity; propodeum with blunt angle at ca. posterior 1/2; anterior margin of petiolar node in profile very low, dorsal surface noticeably horizontal, ca. 2 × as long as posterior surface.

Description.

Minor worker. With head in full-face view, lateral margins anterior to eye level approximately parallel, progressively rounding evenly towards slightly concave rear margin; eye protruding and large (EL/CL: 0.26 ± 0.01; 0.25-0.26), not breaking lateral cephalic margin, location of its posterior margin at posterior 1/4 of head (PoOc/CL: 0.26 ± 0.01; 0.25-0.27); frontal carinae parallel, not widely opened posteriorly (FR/CS: 0.25); clypeus with blunt or poorly defined anterolateral angle, anteromedian margin broadly convex; two apical teeth of mandible normally spaced; antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 1.65 ± 0.03; 1.63-1.67). Promesonotum noticeably convex, followed by a slightly visible metanotal groove; anterior portion of propodeal dorsum sloping along its first 1/2 then slightly convex and rounding to declivity surface. Anterior margin of petiolar node ca. 1/2 height of posterior margin, dorsal margin separated by an angle from anterior margin and inclined posteriorly to jointly rounding to posterior margin.

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

Major worker. Unknown.

Distribution and biology.

The distribution of C. karsti is limited to the dry forest of the RS Ankarana in the north of Madagascar (Fig. 62D ). Nest site for this species is unknown, but foraging is carried out on lower portions of vegetation.

Discussion.

Camponotus karsti can be confounded with C. harenarum because both species are characterized by the presence of a blunt angle at approximately the posterior 1/2 of propodeal dorsum. However, C. harenarum can be distinguished by the separate convexity of its mesonotum and anterior 1/2 of propodeum, and its petiolar node is approximately as high as long.

Etymology.

The species name Camponotus karsti is a non-Latin singular noun used in apposition.

Figures

Figure 5. Mesosoma and petiolar node in lateral view A C. karsti (CASENT 0217292) B C. harenarum (CASENT 0499207).

Figure 62. Camponotus karsti A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of holotype minor worker CASENT 0217292 D distribution map.