Camponotus flavicomans, Clouse, R. M., 2007

Clouse, R. M., 2007, New ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Micronesia., Zootaxa 1475, pp. 1-19 : 6-7

Camponotus flavicomans n. sp.

Plate 2A-C

HOLOTYPE WORKER: TL 4.20, HL 1.33, HW 1.25, CI 94, SL 1.43, SI 114, PW 1.03, ML 0.53. Mandible outer margin strongly curving such that apical tooth points parallel to anterior clypeal margin. Five teeth on the masticatory margin, declining gradually from the apex. Clypeus anterior margin curving out gently. Median clypeus curved slightly away from the vertex, antennal insertions separated by distance greater than distance from nearest clypeal margin to the clypeal midpoint. Head in front view somewhat rounded to square, tapered anteriorly, eyes being the widest part and vertex rounded. In frontal view, bottom margin of eyes located above halfway point of the head and above antennal insertions; their inner margins more than halfway from the frontal lobes and sides of the head, and their outlines breaking the outline of the sides of the head. Antennae 12-segmented, last segment only slightly longer than penultimate. Scape extending beyond vertex by distance nearly equal to half its length. Mesosoma in profile sloping gently from anterior pronotum to dorsal propodeum, then dropping severely, making a concave posterior surface. Petiole taller than long, anterior and posterior faces mostly parallel although bulging slightly dorsally. Color: Head mostly black, mandibles orange, scapes orange from insertions to halfway, and funiculus brownish black. Mesosoma mostly black although appearing slightly brownish anteriorly. Gaster black with grey stripes, formed by a whitish clear strip along posterior fourth of each tergite. Legs same color as mesosoma but becoming reddish at the tips of the tarsi. Pilosity: Mostly a covering of long, recumbent, silver hairs which become golden and more numerous on dorsal gaster, and, to a lesser extent, dorsal mesosoma and front and vertex of the head. Hairs orderly, with the appearance of having been combed. Head with a basic layer of thick and orderly silver recumbent hairs, mixed with short (often not as long as the distance between them), standing, bristle-like hairs between eyes and on clypeus. Mesosoma dominated by silver sheen as with head, then with moderately sized, standing hairs scattered dorsally from pronotum to propodeum. Gaster dominated by shiny, thick sheen of recumbent hairs, mostly gold in color. Laterally and ventrally hairs silver and less numerous. Along posterior of each tergite about ten short-to-moderately sized, evenly spaced bristles. Petiole with silver sheen on anterior-dorsum and dorsum, mixed with long bristles dorsally, less pilose and nearly bare on the posterior. Sculpturing: Head and pronotum with fine pits becoming whorls on remainder of the body and legs.

PARATYPE WORKERS: TL 3.90-4.50, HL 1.20-1.38, HW 1.18-1.35, CI 92-104, SL 1.45-1.60, SI 117-125, PW 1.03-1.13, ML 0.40-0.53.

Similar species: The only species I have found with similar proportions, especially in the steep propodeal declivity, lack the thick layer of recumbent hairs. I have seen Camponotus with numerous golden hairs among unidentified species from Indonesia, but they are too gracile to be this species.

Etymology: Flavicomans is Latin for “golden haired,” the most visible and distinct feature of this species.

Type locality: Babelthuap Island and nearby sections of Koror Island, Republic of Palau, Western Pacific.

Type series: Holotype worker: Palau: Babelthuap I., “Ngiwal-Ngarard” (Esaki, 6-II-1938). Paratype workers (5): Palau: Babelthuap I. , (Oakley, 22-VII-46, NMNH) ; Babelthuap I., Gakip (“ 1256 ,” Townes, 19- VII-46, NMNH) ; NE corner of Koror (“ 1260 ,” Townes, 22-VII-46, NMNH) .