Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913

Dhadwal, Tarun & Bharti, Himender, 2023, Two new species of the genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with five new records from India, European Journal of Taxonomy 901 (1), pp. 1-51 : 17-23

Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913

Figs 10–13

Camponotus fallax var. keihitoi Forel, 1913b: 663

Camponotus tokyoensis Teranishi, 1915: 137 (synonymized by Terayama & Satoh 1990: 532).

Diagnosis

Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913 is allied to C. quarinotatus Forel, 1886 , however, both species can be fairly distinguished by the following combination of characteristics: in C. keihitoi (major worker), the metanotal depression is distinct; pilosity is absent on the mesosoma and the petiole; and the anterior clypeal margin is transverse. While in C. quarinotatus (major worker), the metanotal depression is indistinct; the mesosoma and the petiole are pilose; the clypeal margin is convex anteriorly.

Material examined

INDIA • 14 workers, 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; Uttarakhand, Flower Valley ( Nanda Devi National Park ); 30.7280° N, 79.6053° E; elev. 3600 m; 4 Jul. 2019; T. Dhadwal leg.; hand picking method; PUAC T81 to T98 .

Measurements

Major worker (n = 7)

HL 1.56–1.70; HW 1.26–1.44; EL 0.42–0.45; SL 1.47–1.59; PW 0.96–1.05; WL 2.07–2.19; MTL 1.35– 1.68; HTL 1.59–1.84; PL 0.51–0.57; PH 0.57–0.75; GL 1.81–2.64; TL 5.95–7.10; CI 80–84; SI 110– 116; REL 26–27; PrI 72–76.

Minor worker (n = 7)

HL 1.35–1.38; HW 1.14–1.20; EL 0.36–0.39; SL 1.38–1.44; PW 0.91–0.93; WL 1.95–2.01; MTL 1.17– 1.23; HTL 1.51–1.56; PL 0.45–0.54; PH 0.54–0.57; GL 1.71–2.04; TL 5.46–5.97; CI 84–86; SI 120– 121; REL 26–28; PrI 77–79.

Gyne (n = 2)

HL 1.59–1.72; HW 1.47–1.51; EL 0.49–0.57; SL 1.59–1.63; WL 2.54–2.66; MTL 1.41–1.43; HTL 1.80– 1.96; PL 0.57–0.65; PH 0.82–0.90; GL 2.74–2.82; TL 7.44–7.85; CI 87–92; SI 107–108; REL 30–33.

Male (n = 2)

HL 1.02–1.11; HW 1.08–1.10; EL 0.39–0.42; SL 1.41–1.43; WL 2.01–2.13; MTL 1.33–1.35; HTL 1.72–1.74; PL 0.51–0.53; PH 0.45–0.48; GL 2.37–2.54; TL 5.91–6.31; CI 99–105; SI 130–131; REL 37–38.

Description

Major worker ( Fig. 10 ):

HABITUS. In full-face view, head as long as broad or slightly longer than broad (CI 80–84), posterior head margin convex, occipital corners broadly rounded and lateral sides convex; clypeus broad, anterior margin transverse; mandibles subtriangular and masticatory margin with 5 teeth; antennae slender with 12 segments, scape long (SI 107–108), exceeds posterior head margin by ¼ of its length; eyes moderate in size placed laterally above the mid-length of the head. In dorsal view, mesosoma anteriorly broad (PrI 72–76) and narrow posteriorly; pronotum broader than long; pro-mesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct; propodeum slightly impressed behind the metanotal groove; propodeum laterally compressed behind the mesonotum; propodeal declivity steep; mesosoma does not form a single convexity, convexity interrupted at propodeum being truncate; propodeal declivity concave; propodeal spiracle oval in shape, placed below the propodeal declivity; petiole anteriorly convex and posteriorly flat; tibiae cylindrical; gaster elongate and subglobose.

SCULPTURE. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster all glossy; rest of body is reticulate-rugulose; clypeus with a median keel and scattered punctures; mandibles longitudinally rugulose with sparse pits.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. Body coated in appressed hairs; pale yellow erect or sub-erect hairs plentiful on clypeus and mandibles; gaster covered in long hairs and hind tibia of the legs with dispersed setae underneath as well as 3–4 suberect setae close to the apical spurs.

COLOURATION. Body blackish; mandibles reddish brown and antennae and appendages dark brown.

Minor worker ( Fig. 11 )

All characteristics are the same as of major worker except: in minor worker head is comparatively small (CI 84–86) and oval with a convex posterior margin and sub-parallel lateral margins; the anterior clypeal margin is slightly convex; scape long (SI 120–121), surpassing posterior margin of head by half of its length.

Gyne ( Fig. 12 )

Similar to the major worker with few modifications depicting the caste and the following differences: head narrower (CI 87–92) with subparallel lateral margins and convex posterior margin; cephalic dorsum with 3 prominent ocelli; mandibles with 5 teeth; scape of antennae surpassing posterior margin of head by 1/₆ of its length (SI 107–108); scutum and scutellum minutely reticulated; dorsal surface of petiole transverse; propodeal declivity almost straight slightly convex.

Male ( Fig. 13 )

HABITUS. In full-face view, head as long as broad (CI 99–105), posterior margin of the head slightly concave; cephalic dorsum with 3 prominent ocelli; clypeus carinate in the middle; mandibles slender, curved strap like apical tooth acute, remainder without any teeth or denticles, when closed their tips overlap; eyes subglobose, convex, large and bulging, breaking lateral cephalic head outline; antennae 13-segmented and filiform, scape long (SI 130–131), surpassing posterior margin of head by about half of their length. Mesosoma enlarged, pronotum transverse, narrow and convex; scutum large, rounded anteriorly and transverse posteriorly; dorsally without notauli; parapsidal lines prominent and diverging anteriorly; scutellum pentagonal in shape; mesepimeron with a posterodorsal (epimeral) lobe that covers mesothoracic spiracle and forms a seemingly isolated plate; jugal lobe of hind wing present; petiole triangular, dorsal margin convex; propodeal declivity smoothly rounded; propodeal spiracle round. Pygostyles tubular, projecting outward; parameres elongated; cuspi small bent toward digiti, shorter than digiti; digiti long with short peg-like teeth bent toward parameres; penis valves projecting.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. Clypeus and posterior margin of head with a few thin setae, scutum and scutellum with sparse erect short setae; gaster with adpressed short hairs; pygostyles and distal part of parameres setose; hind tibia without a row of spiny bristles on ventral margins.

COLOURATION. Colour and sculpture as of worker caste.

Global distribution

China and Japan (type locality).

Habitat

During the field survey, the species was documented in Uttarakhand. The nest was found under the boulder. Some of the workers were also collected moving on the grass. The area is mostly surrounded by short grass and flowers with an average daily temperature of 22°C. The habitat is mostly open grassland type.

Relevance

Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913 represents a new record for India. Previously, this species was reported from China and Japan. The male of the species is described for the first time.

Figures

Fig. 10. Camponotus keihitoiForel, 1913, major worker (PUAC T82). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 11. Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913, minor worker (PUAC T85). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 12. Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913, gyne (PUAC T89). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 13. Camponotus keihitoi Forel, 1913, ♂ (PUAC T90). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.