Camponotus harenarum, 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 harenarum sp. nov.

Figs 5B , 57

Holotype worker.

Madagascar: Province Antsiranana: Forêt d’Analabe, 30 km 72° ENE Daraina, -13.08333, 49.90833, 30 m, littoral rainforest, ground forager, 28 Nov 2003 (B.L. Fisher et al.) collection code: BLF09544, specimen code: CASENT0499207 (CAS).

Paratype.

1 minor worker of same data as holotype but with collection code: BLF09463 and specimen code: CASENT0499217 (CAS).

Additional material examined.

Madagascar: Antsiranana: Foret d'Analabe , 30 km 72° ENE Daraina, -13.08333, 49.90833, 30 m, littoral rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS) .

Diagnosis.

With head in full-face view, eye not breaking lateral cephalic margin; mesonotum short and lacking constriction; propodeal dorsum transversely medially concave at ca. posterior 1/2; petiolar node ca. as high as long.

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/CS: 0.25 ± 0.01; 0.25-0.26), not breaking lateral cephalic margin, location of its posterior margin at posterior 1/3 of head (PoOc/CL: 0.28 ± 0.01; 0.27-0.29); frontal carinae not widely opened posteriorly, (FR/CS: 0.25 ± 0.00; 0.24-0.25); clypeus without anterolateral angle, anteromedian margin broadly convex; mandible with two apical teeth normally spaced; antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 1.63 ± 0.05; 1.58-1.70). Promesonotum noticeably convex, metanotal groove noticeably visible; anterior portion of propodeal dorsum convex, then concave and becoming straight with blunt angle to declivity surface. Petiole nodiform, anterior and posterior margins approximately the same height, dorsal margin separated by an angle from the anterior and gently rounding to the posterior.

First and second gastral tergites without a pair of white spots; erect hairs on lateral margin of head present anterior to and behind eye level; posterior margin of head with two elongate, erect hairs; antennal scape covered with erect hairs; junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity with two pairs of erect hairs. Body color orange-brown with darker coxa, junction of segments, abdominal sternites, and appendices.

Major worker.

Unknown.

Distribution and biology.

Endemic to Madagascar, C. harenarum is only known from the littoral rainforest of Analabe in Daraina, in the northeastern region of the island (Fig. 57D ). This species has been found nesting in rotten logs and foraging on the forest floor and on lower vegetation.

Discussion.

Camponotus harenarum can be confounded with C. karsti , but the latter has a more sloping anterior portion of the propodeum that makes a noticeable angle with the posterior region, and a shorter anterior margin of the petiolar node.

Etymology.

The species name Camponotus harenarum is a Latin plural noun in the genitive case of harena, which means sand. It is in reference to the littoral rainforest, the only habitat in which it has been found.

Figures

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

Figure 57. Camponotus harenarum A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of holotype minor worker CASENT 0499207 D distribution map.