Camponotus lamosy Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2018

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology, Zootaxa 4438 (1), pp. 1-58 : 32

Camponotus lamosy Rakotonirina & Fisher sp. n.

( Figures 2B , 10A , 18 , 24 )

Holotype worker. Madagascar: Province Antsiranana, Parc National Montagne d'Ambre, 3.6 km 235° SW Joffreville, -12.53444, 49.1795, 925 m, transect subsample #08, Beat 25 sample transect, 10 m, beating low vegetation montane rainforest, 20–26 Jan 2001 ( Fisher , Griswold et al.) collection code: BLF02566, specimen code: CASENT0408976 ( CASC) .

Paratypes. 11 workers with same data as holotype but with specimen codes: CASENT0408963, CASENT0408965, CASENT0408966, CASENT0408968, CASENT0408970, CASENT0408971, CASENT0408972, CASENT0408973, CASENT0408974, CASENT0408975, CASENT0408977 ( CASC, BMNH, MHNG, PBZT).

Diagnosis. Clypeus without median longitudinal carina; mandible with six teeth; anteromedian margin of clypeus not lamellate; in lateral view, mesosoma short and high, its dorsal outline continuously arched in a domelike structure; propodeal declivity inclined posteriorly; in lateral view, propodeal dorsum slightly excised medially, petiolar node longer than high.

Description. Minor worker. In full-face view head longer than broad (CWb/CL: 0.77±0.03; 0.73–0.82), lateral margins roughly straight and slightly converging anteriorly and posteriorly; posterior margin more or less straight. Clypeus with straight anteromedian margin and rounded anterolateral angle. Eyes sometimes breaking the lateral outlines of the head, their posterior margins located well behind the mid-length of the head (PoOc/CL: 0.34±0.01; 0.31–0.37). Mandible triangular, apical margin with six sharp teeth. Antennal scape long, roughly its apical third surpassing posterior margin of head. In lateral view, outline of pronotum more or less straight and mesonotum forming a separate convexity; propodeum slightly concave anteriorly and weakly convex posteriorly; its junction to declivity angulate; declivity inclined posteriorly. Petiolar node longer than high.

Dorsum of head and gastral segments with abundant erect filiform hairs; pronotum with 2 pairs, mesonotum, propodeum and petiolar node with one pair of erect hairs. Pubescence short and sparse on gastral segments. Head black, mesosoma, petiolar node, gaster and legs yellow-orange with black to dark brown spot on lower level of lateral surface of pronotum, propodeum and petiole. Coxa and trochanter whitish-yellow, base and apical portion of femur dark brown.

Major worker. Differing from minor worker in having larger heart-shaped head, apical fourth of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; robust mesosoma with distinct metanotum, and as high as long petiolar node. Other characters as in minor worker.

Discussion. Camponotus lamosy is similar to C. dromedarius and C. pulcher , but can be distinguished by its slightly excised propodeal dorsum.

The definition of Camponotus lamosy based on qualitative morphological analysis and multivariate morphometry is congruent. Recognition of the species is supported by the clustering shown by the dendrogram ( Fig. 1 ) and confirmed by LDA at a 100% classification success.

Distribution and biology. Camponotus lamosy occupies the littoral forest habitats of the north, the rainforests of the northeast, and the montane rainforests of the central high plateau and the southeast of Madagascar. Endemic to the island, the species is found foraging both on the ground and through the leaf litter or on the lower portions of vegetation, and its nests are located in rotten logs or in dead branches above ground.

Additional material examined. Province Antsiranana: 6.5 km SSW Befingotra, Réserve Anjanaharibe-Sud , 875 m, -14.75, 49.5, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Betaolana Forest, along Bekona River , 880 m, -14.52996, 49.44039, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CASC) ; Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River , 27.6 km 35° NE Andapa, 9.6 km 327° NNW Manantenina, 775 m, -14.435, 49.76, rainforest, (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC) ; Parc National Montagne d'Ambre , 3.6 km 235° SW Joffreville, 925 m, -12.53444, 49.1795, (Joy Boutin) ( CASC) ; Parc National Montagne d'Ambre, Crête, 1110 m, -12.58132, 49.13368, montane rainforest, (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CASC); 3 km W Sakalava Beach [white dunes site], 40 m, -12.28617, 49.36667, white dunes in littoral forest, (Harin'Hala, Irwin, Schlinger) ( CASC) ; 7 km N Joffreville [camp 2 of Fisher ], 360 m, -12.33333, 49.25, in dry forest, (R. Harin'Hala) ( CASC) ; Parc National Montagne d'Ambre [1 st campsite ], 960 m, -12.51444, 49.18139, rainforest, (R. Harin'Hala) ( CASC) ; Parc National Montagne d'Ambre [ Petit Lac road], 1125 m, -12.52028, 49.17917, rainforest, (R. Harin'Hala) ( CASC) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dendrogram of NC-PART-clustering of the 14 species recognized in the Camponotus subgenus Mayria. Color bars represent the species hypothesis generated by PART using “hclust” and “kmeans” clustering methods. The corresponding label on the tip of the branch (the species name followed by the collection code) is given the same color code.

FIGURE 2. Head in full-face view. A: C. lubbocki (CASENT0486998). B: C. lamosy (CASENT0408976).

FIGURE 10. Mesosoma in lateral view. A: C. lamosy (CASENT0408976). B: C. pulcher (CASENT0191639).

FIGURE 18. Camponotus lamosy minor worker CASENT0408976. A: lateral view. B: head in full-face view. C: dorsal view.

FIGURES 21–26. Distribution maps of Camponotus subgenus Mayria in Madagascar. Fig. 21: C. christi; Fig. 22: C. dromedarius; Fig. 23: C. foersteri; Fig. 24: C. lamosy; Fig. 25: C. liandia, Fig. 26: C. lubbocki.