Camponotus nossibeensis Andre, 1887

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 nossibeensis Andre

Figures 5C , 13A , 14A , 54

Camponotus nossibeensis André, 1887: 281. Lectotype major worker, present designation, Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Nossi-be, -13.291667, 48.258335, 146 m (Forel), AntWeb CASENT0101425 (MNHN). Paralectotype minor worker, same data as lectotype but specimen coded as CASENT0101373 (MHNG).

Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) nossibeensis Forel, 1912: 91; 1914: 270.

Camponotus (Myrmepomis) nossibeensis Emery, 1920: 258.

Camponotus (Myrmopiromis) nossibeensis Wheeler, 1922: 1052; Emery, 1925: 129; Bolton, 1995: 114, 131.

Worker diagnosis.

Integument matte black; body a rust brown color, relatively dense on entire dorsum; anterior margin of clypeus with short rectangular lobe; dorsal outline of mesosoma weakly arcuate; declivitous face of propodeum longer than its dorsum.

Description of minor worker.

Large-sized species. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 2.24 0.46; 1.92-2.70). In full-face view, head slightly longer than broad, narrower in front than behind, with nearly straight posterior and lateral margins. (CWb/CL: 0.37 ± 0.03; 0.35-0.42). Eyes more elongate, elliptical, not breaking outlines of head (PoOC/CL: 0.08 ± 0.02; 0.06-0.09). Mandibles triangular withsix teeth. Clypeus carinate, anterior clypeal margin entire, projecting into a rectangular lobe with an obtuse anterolateral angle (ClyL/GPD: 0.28 ± 0.05, 0.24-0.32). Antennal scape long, surpassing the occiput by the length of one funiculus (SL/CS: 0.39 ± 0.05; 0.33-0.41). In lateral view, mesosoma short, robust, and depressed; its dorsal outline arcuate; promesonotal suture large, distinctly shiny, and glabrous; humeral angle distinctly rounded; metanotal suture obsolete; propodeal dorsum slightly convex in profile and distinctly shorter than the declivitous face into which it passes via a rounded obtuse angle (MW/ML: 0.22 ± 0.03; 0.20-0.24; MPH/ML: 0.21 ± 0.05; 0.18-0.24). In lateral view, petiolar node squamiform, anterior face confused with its dorsal face, node summit truncate, rounded triangle in dorsal view. Head, mesosoma, and gastral tergite finely and densely punctate. Mandible finely and longitudinally striate with sparse punctuation. Hairs golden yellow, erect to suberect, abundant, bending forward at its midlength on occipital region and mesosomal dorsum, but more abundant on mesonotum and propodeum dorsum; sparse, stiff, pointed, and a different length on gastral tergites. Petiole along its border with a fringe of golden, yellowish hairs not the same length. Body entirely black and a little shiny; masticatory margin reddish to dark brown.

Description of major worker.

With characteristics of minor worker, except: head much wider posteriorly (CS: 3.05 ± 0.41, 2.35-3.67; CWb/CL: 1.02 ± 0.04, 0.96-1.08), lateral margin almost straight and tapering anteriorly to the mandibular insertion. Eyes elliptical, moderately sized compared to the head (EL/CS: 0.20 ± 0.01, 0.1--0.23), placed dorsally next to the vertex (PoOC/CL: 0.23 ± 0.02, 0.18-0.27). Clypeus more rectangular (ClyL/GPD: 0.84 ± 0.05; 0.73-0.91). Antennal scape just surpassing the occipital margin (SL/CS: 0.77 ± 0.08; 0.68-0.91). Mandible strongly built with five large teeth, apical tooth sharp and long, and remainder decreasing in size to the basal margin. Mesosoma, pilosity, and pubescence same as minor worker. Head shiny black; anterior portion of head, including frontal area, finely alveolate punctate.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus nossibeensis is an endemic species mostly known from the northern part of Madagascar, from Nosy Faly to Ambanja. This species seems very adaple because it has been collected from both humid and tropical dry forest, at altitudes 7-780 m (Fig. 58C ). The data indicate that individual workers forage on the ground and on lower vegetation, while nests are mostly found in dead twigs above ground, rotten logs, dead tree stumps, and underground.

Discussion.

The combination of large size, big eyes, vertical declivitous face of propodeum, dense pilosity on mesosoma and gaster, and alveolate sculpture make C. nossibeensis a very distinctive species.

Additional material examined.

Province Antsiranana: Foret Ambato , 26.6 km 33° Ambanja , -13.4645, 48.55167, 150 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Nosy faly, Tafiambotry, 35.3 km N Ambanja, -13.3654, 48.48775, 7 m, littoral rainforest (BLF) (CAS); Ankobahoba, 32.3 km N Ambanja, -13.39166, 48.48249, 41 m, disturbed littoral rainforest (BLF) (CAS); R.S. Manongarivo, 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao, -13.96167, 48.43333, 400 m, rainforest (CAS); R.S. Manongarivo, 12.8 km 228° SW Antanambao, -13.97667, 48.42333, 780 m, rainforest(CAS); R.S. Manongarivo, 20.4 km 219° SW Antanambao, -14.04667, 48.40167, 1860 m, montane rainforest (CAS); R.S. Manongarivo 17.3 km 218° SW Antanambao, -14.02167, 48.41833, 1580 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Nosy Faly, -13.36435, 48.49137, 40 m, open secondary vegetation (BLF) (CAS); Nosy Faly, -13.3624, 48.49101, 15 m, open secondary vegetation (BLF) (CAS); Sahamalaza Peninsula, Forêt d’Anabohazo, 21.6 km 247° WSW Maromandia, -14.30889, 47.91433, 120 m, tropical dry forest (FGAT) (CAS); Nosy Be, Reserve Naturelle Integrale de Lokobe , 6.3 km 112° ESE Hellville, -13.41933, 48.33117, 30 m, rainforest (FGAT) (CAS); Sahamalaza National Park , -14.16361, 47.70277, 192 m, subhumid forest (MG) (CAS); Nosy Faly, -13.36255, 48.49104, 19 m, open secondary vegetation (BLF) (CAS). Province Mahajanga: Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha , 3.4 km 93° E Bekopaka , Tombeau Vazimba , -19.14194, 44.828, 50 m, tropical dry forest (FGAT) (CAS); Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha , 10.6 km ESE 123° Antsalova, -18.70944, 44.71817, 150 m, tropical dry forest on Tsingy (FGAT) (CAS); Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha , 2.5 km 62° ENE Bekopaka, Ankidrodroa River , -19.13222, 44.81467, 100 m, tropical dry forest on Tsingy (FGAT) (CAS); Réserve Spéciale Marotandrano, Marotandrano 48.3 km S Mandritsara, -16.28322, 48.81443, 865 m, transitional humid forest (BLF) (CAS); Ampamakiambato, 45 km SW Ambanja, -13.97545, 48.15929, 145 m, disturbed forest, in tsingy (BLF) (CAS); Manerinerina, 76.6 km N Antsohihy, -14.10744, 48.11046, 247 m, disturbed forest (BLF) (CAS); Réserve forestière Beanka, 50.7 km E Maintirano, -17.88021, 44.46877, 140 m, tropical dry forest on tsingy (BLF) (CAS); Réserve forestière Beanka, 54.3 km E Maintirano, -18.06009, 44.54086, 262 m, tropical dry forest on tsingy (BLF) (CAS); Melaky Region , District of Besalampy , Marofototra dry forest, 17 km W of Besalampy, -16.72167, 44.42367, 51 m, dry wash in the dry forest (MG) (CAS); Bemeraha, 9 km E. Antsalova, -18.65, 44.71667 (D. C. Lees) (PSWC); Foret de Tsimembo , 8.7 km 336° NNW Soatana, -19.02139, 44.44067, 20 m, tropical dry forest (FGAT) (CAS). Province Toliara: Belalanda, -23.29833, 43.64648, 5 m, spiny forest/thicket, wetlands (Frontier Wilderness Project) (CAS); near road, Zombitse National Park , -22.8405, 44.73117, 825 m, spiny deciduous forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); near ANGAP office, Zombitse National Park , -22.8865, 44.69217, 840 m, deciduous spiny forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); 15 km E Sakaraha, -22.9, 44.68333, 760 m, tropical dry forest (PSW) (PSWC); Makay Mts. , -21.30997, 45.12946, 590 m, Dry forest on sandy soil (BLF) (CAS); Makay Mts. , -21.227, 45.33222, 475 m, gallery forest on sandy soil (BLF) (CAS); Makay Mts. , -21.21013, 45.35462, 540 m, gallery forest with bamboo (BLF) (CAS); Parc National de Zombitse, 17.7 km 98° E Sakaraha, -22.88833, 44.70167, 760 m, tropical dry forest (FGAT) (CAS); 9 km NNW Ranohira, P.N. Isalo, -22.48333, 45.38333, 800 m, tropical dry forest (PSW) (PSWC) .

Figures

Figure 5. Morphological character of minor and major workers of C. darwinii species group A head of minor worker in full-face view of C. darwinii (CASENT 0179460) B body in lateral view of the same species C head of major worker in full-face view C. nossibeensis (CASENT 0493593) D body in lateral view of C. themistocles (CASENT 0217297).

Figure 13. Type of hair on mesosoma dorsum A C. nossibeensis (CASENT 0191657) B C. antsaraingy (CASENT 0371032).

Figure 14. Density of hair on mesosoma dorsum and propodeum angle A C. nossibeensis (CASENT 0191657) B C. radovae (CASENT 0066208).

Figure 54. Camponotus nossibeensis minor worker (CASENT 0191657) 1 body in lateral view 2 head in full-face view 3 body in dorsal view.

Figure 58. Distribution map of C. darwinii species group A C. darwinii B C. norvigi C C. nossibeensis D C. radovae E C. themistocles F C. ursus