Camponotus norvigi, 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 norvigi sp. nov.

Figures 15A , 53

Holotype worker.

Madagascar, Province Mahajanga, Region Sofia, Bemanevika, -14.337, 48.58874, 1606 m, montane rainforest, ex dead twig above ground, 14 January 2015 (BLF), collection code: BLF35614, specimen code: CASENT0923254 (CAS). Paratypes. Three workers with the same data as holotype: collection code: BLF35657, specimen code: CASENT0724324; collection code: BLF35614, specimen code: CASENT0724356; collection code: BLF35615, specimen code: CASENT0724357 (CAS).

Worker diagnosis.

Integument black; head, mesosoma, and gastral dorsum clothed with dense, whitish hairs; anterior margin of clypeus with short rectangular lobe; dorsal outline of mesosoma almost flat; dorsum and declivitous faces of propodeum unequal in length and form an obtuse angle.

Description minor worker.

Medium-sized species. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 1.45 ± 0.24, 1.31-1.66). In full-face view, head more quadrate (CWb/CL: 0.36 ± 0.02; 0.35-0.38), posterior margin of head and lateral margin weakly convex. Eyes circular, placed laterally close to lateral head margin (PoOC/CL: 0.08 ± 0.01; 0.07-0.09). Mandibles triangular with six teeth. Clypeus convex, its anterior portion projected into a rectangular lobe. Antennal scape circular and long (SL/CS: 0.40 ± 0.03; 0.37-0.42). In lateral view, mesosoma low and long, its dorsum smoothly arcuate, metanotal suture obsolete. Humeral angle rounded. Propodeal dorsum about the same length as declivitous face (MPH/ML: 0.18 ± 0.02; 0.18-0.20). In lateral view, petiole squamiform with blunt edge, anterior face short and converging to the highest point of the petiole, posterior face straight. Ventral face of femora marginate laterally, the outer margin of tibia with long, whitish setae. Head and mesosoma coarsely reticulate-punctate, legs and gastral tergite finely imbricate. Mandible finely foveolate with sparse punctures. Pilosity and pubescence whitish, the former sparse and suberect, especially on occipital portion, frontal area, and mesosoma, though most conspicuous on the thoracic dorsum. On the gaster, the suberect hairs are long and abundant, overlapping with appressed hairs, pubescence inconspicuous and short. Petiolar node fringed with one row of whitish hair from the level of petiolar spiracle. Head including scape, mesosoma, and gaster dark brown to black, legs brownish, less dark than mesosoma.

Description of major worker.

Characteristics of minor workers, except: head much wider posteriorly (CS: 1.98 ± 0.30, 1.78-2.32; CWb/CL: 0.99 ± 0.01, 0.98-1.00); lateral margins convex and converging towards base of mandible. Eyes semicircular, placed dorsolaterally midway from the occipital margin (PoOC/CL: 0.23 ± 0.01, 0.22-0.23). Clypeus much more quadrate in full-face view (ClyL/GPD: 0.72 ± 0.02, 0.69-0.73), its anterior margin slightly concave medially. Antennal scape short, just surpassing the occipital border (SL/CS: 0.90 ± 0.14, 0.75-1.00). Dorsal outline of mesosoma forms a continuous line so that the basal portion of propodeum forms an obtuse angle with the declivity. Lateral portion of head finely reticulate above, punctate to finely areolate below.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus norvigi has been collected primarily by Malaise trap and beating low vegetation, and rarely from yellow pan traps. No colonies have been collected. It is distributed mainly in montane forest, rainforest, and high-altitude rainforest in southern, western, and central Madagascar; in tropical dry forest in northern Madagascar, e.g., Res Tsingy de Bemaraha, and in gallery forest and open areas on the western portion of the island (Fig. 58B ). It occurs at elevations of 20-1606 meters. This species is sympatric with C. darwinii at the edge of PN Isalo and Ranomafana, at Ambohitantely ( Forêt sclerophylle).

Discussion.

Camponotus norvigi stands out within the species group. The color and disposition of the erect hairs covering its entire dorsum separate C. norvigi from C. darwinii. The latter species and C. ursus both have dense pubescence on their mesosoma or gastral dorsum, a character absent in C. norvigi . At first glance, C. norvigi appears closely related to the C. madagascarensis group because of its whitish pilosity, but the two differ in the structure of the mesosoma, which is low and long in the C. madagascarensis group and short and high in the C. darwinii group.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of K. Norvig for support in training young scientists in Madagascar.

Additional material examined.

Province Antananarivo: Analamanga Region , District of Ankazobe , Ambohitantely , 46 km NE of Ankazobe, -18.198, 47.2815, 701 m, Forêt sclerophylle (MG) (CAS); Reserve Speciale d’Ambohitantely, -18.22444, 47.2774, 1490 m, montane forest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS). Province Antsiranana: 9.2 km WSW Befingotra, Res. Anjanaharibe-Sud , -14.75, 49.46667, 1200 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Parc National de Marojejy , Antranohofa, 26.6 km 31° NNE Andapa, 10.7 km 318° NW Manantenina, -14.44333, 49.74333, 1325 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Parc National Montagne d’Ambre [Petit Lac road], -12.533333, 49.166668, 1125m, rainforest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS). Province Fianarantsoa: 2 km NE Anjoma-Ramartina, -19.63333, 45.96667, 750 m, grassland (PSW) (CAS); 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly , -21.51167, 47.41, 1075 m, cultivated land (tavy), recent 1-2 year-old tavy (BLF) (CAS); Ambalavao, -21.83267, 46.93867, 1020 m, urban/garden (BLF) (CAS); Belle Vue trail, Ranomafana National Park , -21.2665, 47.42017, 1020 m, mixed tropical forest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Fitovavy Fitovinany Region , District of Ifanadiana Belle vue area, 1200 m S of Ranomafana National Park entrance, -21.2665, 47.42017, 1018 m, rainforest (MG) (CAS); Fitovavy Fitovinany Region , District of Ifanadiana , 12 km W of Ranomafana, -21.25083, 47.40717, 1127 m, forest edge, open area, (MG) (CAS); JIRAMA water works near river, Ranomafana National Park , Fianarantsoa Prov. , -21.2485, 47.45217, 690m, open area near stream (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); radio tower, Ranomafana National Park , -21.25833, 47.40717, 1130 m, forest edge, mixed tropical forest, open area (MG) (CAS); Ranomafana , -21.25, 47.36667 (A. Pauly) (CAS); Ranomafana , nr. Ifanadiana, -21.26667, 47.45, 610 m, open forest/shrubland (PSW) (CAS); stream area, 900 m E of Isalo National Park Interpretive Center , -22.62667, 45.35817, 750 m, open area near stream (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS); Vohiparara broken bridge, -21.22617, 47.36983, 1110 m, high altitude rainforest (R. Harin’Hala) (CAS). Province Mahajanga: Parc National de Namoroka , 16.9 km 317° NW Vilanandro, -16.40667, 45.31, 100 m, tropical dry forest (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); Region Sofia, Bemanevika, -14.337, 48.58874, 1606 m, montane rainforest (BLF) (CAS). Province Toamasina: Ankerana, -18.40636, 48.80254, 1108 m, montane forest (BLF) (CAS); Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Tsaravoniana, -18.76465, 48.41938, 1039 m, rainforest (BLF) (CAS); Toamasina Forêt Ambatovy, 14.3 km 57° Moramanga, -18.85083, 48.32, 1075 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); Manakambahiny Atsinanana, -17.75, 48.71667, primary forest (A. Pauly) (CAS); P.N. Mantadia, -18.79167, 48.42667, 895m, rainforest (H.J. Ratsirarson) (CAS); Torotorofotsy, -18.77048, 48.43043, 1005 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS). Province Toliara: 13 km NW Enakara, Res. Andohahela , -24.55, 46.8, 1180 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); 2.7 km WNW 302° Ste. Luce, -24.77167, 47.17167, 20 m, littoral rainforest (B.L. Fisher) (CAS); 4 km N Isaka-Ivondro, -24.76667, 46.86667, 180 m, roadside (PSW) (CAS); 6 km ESE Imonty, Res. Andohahela , -24.85, 46.75, 1200 m, rainforest (PSW) (CAS); Makay Mts., -21.227, 45.33222, 475 m, gallery forest on sandy soil (BLF) (CAS); Manatantely, 8.5 km NW Tolagnaro, -24.9875, 46.92617, 85 m, rainforest (BLF) (CAS); Parc National Andohahela, Col de Tanatana, 33.3 km NW Tolagnaro, -24.7585, 46.85367, 275 m, rainforest (BLF) (CAS); Parc National d’Andohahela, Col du Sedro, 3.8 km 113° ESE Mahamavo, 37.6 km 341° NNW Tolagnaro, -24.76389, 46.75167, 900 m, montane rainforest (FGAT) (CAS); Res. Andohahela, 6 km SSW Eminiminy, -24.73333, 46.8, 330 m, rainforest (PSW) (CAS); Reserve Speciale d’Ambohijanahary, Forêt d’Ankazotsihitafototra, 35.2 km 312° NW Ambaravaranala, -18.26667, 45.40667, 1050 m, montane rainforest (FGAT) (CAS) .

Figures

Figure 15. Hair color A C. norvigi (CASENT 0923254) B C. themistocles (CASENT 0217297).

Figure 53. Camponotus norvigi minor worker (CASENT 0923254) 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