Camponotus imitator Forel, 1891

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 imitator Forel

Fig. 16A

Diagnosis.

With head in full-face view, posterior portion of head extending into a neck, and anteromedian clypeal margin continuously forming broad convexity; dorsal outline of mesosoma complex; body color black to dark brown.

Distribution and biology.

See the geographic distribution and biology in Rasoamanana et al. (2017).

Discussion.

Camponotus imitator can be easily separated from the other species of the Myrmosaga group in that it is the only species that is characterized by an elongate mesonotum that is constricted at midlength, and its propodeum is broadly convex when the mesosoma is viewed in profile.

See also discussion under the section "Morphological diagnosis of the worker caste of the Malagasy Myrmosaga ".

The grouping of C. imitator revealed by the NC-clustering method dendrogram is confirmed by the cumulative LDA at 100% identification success, indicating the support of the species hypothesized by qualitative morphology-based taxonomy.

Figures

Figure 16. Mesosoma in lateral view A C. imitator (CASENT 0452849) B C. mahafaly (CASENT 0115287).