Camponotus liandia Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2018

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 liandia Rakotonirina & Fisher

Figs 34A , 64

Diagnosis.

In full-face view, lateral margins of head anterior to eye level diverging posteriorly; anterior clypeal margin broadly triangular.

Distribution and biology.

In the present study, more samples have been attributed to C. liandia . The species is generally known from coastal scrub and littoral forest in the east, montane rainforest, grassland, shrubland, savannah grassland, woodland, and Uapaca woodland on the central high plateau (Fig. 64D ). It has also colonized dry forest on tsingy and burned savannah in the west, degraded forest below granite outcroppings, and montane shrubland on rock in the high plateau. Nests are established in rotten logs, under stones, and in the ground. Workers may forage on the ground and on low vegetation.

Discussion.

With the additional samples, C. liandia presents two morphological variations: a matte integument covered with microreticulate sculpture, and a smooth and shining body. The first form has been observed from samples collected from the Forêt d’Atsirakambiaty in the grassland of the south-central high plateau. The second form occupies coastal scrub and littoral forest in the east and dry forest on Tsingy and burned savannah in the west.

Camponotus liandia was originally described under the subgenus Camponotus Mayria ( Rakotonirina and Fisher 2018) but the presence of a median carina on a broadly projected rectangular clypeus and a dorsally tapering petiolar node that are a few of the strong features characterizing the subgenus Camponotus Myrmosaga has led to the placement of the species to this latter subgenus. The subgenus Camponotus Mayria has generally rounded anterior clypeal margin and a nodiform petiole.

The cluster for C. liandia is composed of a larger number of worker samples to include the qualitative morphological variation within the species. The results of the exploratory analysis using NC-clustering methods are congruent with the definition of C. liandia based on traditional qualitative morphology. Identification of this species is confirmed by LDA with 100% success.

Figures

Figure 34. Head in full-face view A C. liandia (CASENT 0491145) B C. kelimaso (CASENT 0487718).

Figure 64. Camponotus liandia A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of minor worker CASENT 0491145 D distribution map.