Camponotus zoro, Rasoamanana & Fisher, 2022

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 zoro sp. nov.

Figures 11A, B , 33C, D , 72

Holotype worker.

Madagascar, Province Fianarantsoa, Forêt d’ Atsirakambiaty, 7.6 km 285° WNW Itremo, -20.59333, 46.56333, 1550 m, montane rainforest, Malaise trap, 22-26 January 2003 (BLF), collection code: BLF07155, specimen code: CASENT0049853 (CAS). Paratype. One worker. Madagascar, Province Antananarivo, 3 km 41° NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147° SSE Anjozorobe, -18.47333, 47.96, 1300 m, montane rainforest, pitfall trap, 5-13 December 2000 (BLF), collection code: BLF02370, specimen code: CASENT0409150 (CAS).

Worker diagnosis.

Integument black, entirely but finely sculptured, appendages dark brown; scape circular; anterior margin of clypeus rounded, not projected; promesonotal suture impressed, dorsolateral margin of propodeal margin.

Description of minor worker.

Medium-sized. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 1.02 ± 0.28; 0.92-1.14). In full-face view, head subquadrate (CWb/CL: 0.39 ± 0.01, 0.39-0.40), posterior margin of head broadly convex, lateral margin of head slightly convex. Eyes sub-elliptical, placed laterally, closer to the posterior margin (PoOC/CL: 0.09 ± 0.01; 0.08-0.09). Mandibles triangular with five teeth. Anterior clypeal margin rounded and not produced anteriorly (ClyL/GPD: 0.24 ± 0.01). Antennal scape virtually circular, surpassing posterior cephalic margin by the length of two basal flagella (SL/CS: 0.34 ± 0.04; 0.33-0.36). In lateral view, metanotal groove deeply impressed; pronotum, mesonotum, and propodeum dorsum marginated laterally; mesonotum dorsum inclined posteriorly; propodeum dorsum slightly concave, its lateral carina forming a blunt tubercle with the lateral margin of the declivity (MPD/ML: 0.25 ± 0.02; 0.24-0.25). In lateral view, petiolar node strongly convex anterodorsally and flat posteriorly, node summit convex. Head finely areolate and mesosoma feebly areolate-costulate, gastral tergite finely imbricate. Mandible glabrous. Vertex with three pairs of filiform erect setae; mesonotum and propodeum dorsum with single pair of whitish setae; gastral tergite with short, whitish setae aligned transversally on the middle length of each segment; petiolar node with two or three pairs of whitish setae on its dorsum. Body uniformly dark blackish brown to black, appendages brownish, mandible light brown.

Description of major worker.

With characteristics exactly the same as minor worker, but head more trapezoidal (CS: 1.74 ± 0.04, 1.71-1.77).

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus zoro has been collected by beating low vegetation, sifting leaf litter, and baiting with honey and tuna fish. One worker has been found in Malaise traps from deciduous forest in southern Madagascar (Fig. 72E ). In addition, this species has been collected from montane rainforest and Uapaca woodland.

Discussion.

Camponotus zoro is characterized by a shallow but distinct metanotal groove, and should not be confused with any other species because of the margination of its mesosoma.

Etymology.

The new species is named after the structure of the mesosoma; " Camponotus zoro "means angle.

Additional material examined.

Province Antananarivo: Navoatra I Non Protected Area , 7.64 km NW Arivonimamo, -18.97806, 47.11929, 1373 m, Uapaca woodland (ARA) (CAS); Ankalalahana, -19.0531, 47.11304, 1314 m, Uapaca woodland (H.E. Marti et al.) (CAS); 3 km 41° NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147° SSE Anjozorobe, -18.47333, 47.96, 1300 m, montane rainforest (FGAT) (CAS); Reg. Analamanga, St. Forestiѐre Mandraka, -18.9183, 47.91687, 1285 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher, F.A. Esteves et al.) (CAS). Province Fianarantsoa: Forêt d’ Atsirakambiaty, 7.6 km 285° WNW Itremo, -20.59333, 46.56333, 1550 m, montane rainforest (FGAT) (CAS). Province Toamasina: Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river, -16.7755, 49.26427, 430 m, rainforest (BLF) (CAS) .

Figures

Figure 11. Morphological character of minor and major workers of C. robustus species group A, B minor worker of C. zoro (CASENT 0049853) A head in full-face view B body in lateral view C head of major worker of C. robustus (CASENT 0066724) D minor worker of C. robustus (CASENT 0066723).

Figure 33. Mesonotum and propodeum in dorsal view, petiole in lateral view A, B C. ethicus (CASENT 0409949) C, D C. zoro (CASENT 0049853).

Figure 72. Distribution map of C. repens species group A C. claveri B C. ihazofotsy C C. jjacquia D C. tsimelahy and C. robustus species group E C. zoro