Camponotus vano, Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022

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 vano sp. nov.

Figs 19B , 77

Holotype worker.

Madagascar: Province Toamasina: PN Zahamena, Onibe River, -17.75908, 48.85468, 780 m, rainforest, beating low vegetation, 22 Feb 2009 (B.L. Fisher, Malagasy Arthropod Team) collection code: BLF22341, specimen code: CASENT0217316 (CAS).

Paratypes.

2 minor workers and 1 major worker with same data as holotype but respectively specimen coded as: CASENT0077651, CASENT0840785, CASENT0152085 (PBZT, CAS).

Additional material examined.

Madagascar: Toamasina: PN Zahamena, Onibe River , -17.75908, 48.85468, 780 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher, Malagasy Arthropod Team) (CAS); Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana, -18.80388, 48.40506, 1013 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) (CAS) .

Diagnosis.

Lateral cephalic margins approximately parallel in full-face view; two apical teeth of mandibles closely spaced; lateral cephalic margin posterior to eye level without erect hairs; antennal scape covered with appressed hairs; mesosoma very low and long; propodeal dorsum at least four times as long as declivity; petiole nodelike.

Description.

Minor worker. With head in full-face view, lateral margins anterior to eye level parallel, posteriorly rounding evenly towards a rear margin that is somewhat necked; eye protruding and large (EL/CL: 0.29), breaking lateral cephalic margin, location of its posterior margin at posterior 1/3 of head (PoOc/CL: 0.34); frontal carinae widely opened (FR/CS: 0.29 ± 0.00; 0.29-0.30), posteriorly parallel; clypeus with blunt or poorly defined anterolateral angle, anteromedian margin broadly convex; two apical teeth of mandible closely spaced; antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 1.68 ± 0.03; 1.66-1.70). Mesosoma low and long (MPH/ML: 0.29 ± 0.02; 0.28-0.31), promesonotum slightly convex, mesonotum and propodeum more or less flat; metanotal groove feebly visible, propodeal dorsum rounding to declivity, propodeal dorsum four times as long as declivity. Petiole nodelike, with dorsal margin inclined posteriorly and rounding to anterior margin; tibia of hind leg rounded axially, without basal twist.

First and second gastral tergites without a pair of white spots; erect hairs on lateral margin of head present anterior to eye level and absent behind eye level; posterior margin of head with two erect hairs; antennal scape covered with appressed hairs; junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity with a pair of erect hairs.

Major worker. Differing from minor worker in the following characters: enlarged, elongate, and rectangular head (CS: 1.67; CWb/CL: 0.64) with slightly concave posterior margin; two apical teeth of mandible normally spaced; distal 1/3 of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; robust, short, and high mesosoma, metanotum distinctly visible, propodeal dorsum almost 3 × as long as more vertical declivity, their junction forming a blunt angle; with more pairs of erect hairs. Head dark brown, body color pale brown, propodeum much darker.

Distribution and biology.

A species endemic to Madagascar, C. vano is geographically restricted to the PN Zahamena and the Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia in humid forests in the east of the island (Fig. 77D ). Collection data indicate that the species is arboreal; nests have been found in dead bamboo on the ground, while workers have been found foraging on lower vegetation.

Discussion.

See discussion under C. radamae .

Camponotus vano was not included in the NC-clustering analysis due to an inadequate number of minor workers. However, its qualitative morphological traits are sufficient to supports its status as a real species.

Etymology.

The species name Camponotus vano is a non-Latin singular noun used in apposition and refers to the Malagasy name for “heron”. It refers to the elongate body form of the species.

Figures

Figure 19. Mesosoma and petiolar node in lateral view A C. radamae (CASENT 066777) B C. vano (CASENT 0217316).

Figure 77. Camponotus vano A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of holotype minor worker CASENT 0217316 D distribution map.