Camponotus cyrtomyrmodes Donisthorpe

Shattuck, Steve, 2005, Review of the Camponotus aureopilus species­group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), including a second Camponotus with a metapleural gland, Zootaxa 903, pp. 1-20 : 6-8

Camponotus cyrtomyrmodes Donisthorpe ( Figs 4–6 )

Camponotus (Myrmophyma) cyrtomyrmodes Donisthorpe 1941a: 139 . Two worker syntypes and one male syntype from Mafulu, Wharton Range, Papua New Guinea (BMNH, examined).

Diagnosis (minor worker). Dorsum of mesosoma with fewer than 6 scattered hairs and enlarged hairs absent; anterolateral corners of pronotum strongly ridged.

Description (minor worker). Posterolateral margin of head strongly concave with a strong ridge running between the eye and the posterolateral corner, the head widest at this ridge, slightly narrower just above the mandibular insertions and narrowest just below the eyes, the area between the ridges (the upper part of the head behind the eyes) forming an essentially flat surface, this surface extending onto the laterally expanded pronotum and flattened anterior mesonotum to form a single, broad “shield.” Antennal scape long. Petiolar node low, block­like, the dorsal surface broadly convex. Pronotum, mesonotum, propodeum and petiole each with 2–4 erect hairs, hairs more abundant on head and gaster, enlarged hairs absent; pubescence present but thin and scattered. Colour red­black with legs yellow­red.

Measurements. Minor worker (n=4): CI 93–98, HL 1.40–1.53mm, HW 1.37– 1.45mm, ML 2.30–2.42mm, MTL 1.64–1.76mm, SI 152–158, SL 2.11–2.20mm.

Material Examined. Papua New Guinea: Northern District: 8km S Kokoda (Taylor, R.W.) ( ANIC).

Comments. As noted by Donisthorpe (1941a), the worker of this unusual species superficially resembles species of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) , especially in the overall shape of the mesosoma. However this shape is also shared by other members of this species­group as well as the apparently unrelated Australian C. postcornutus Clark ( Shattuck and McArthur 2002) and is clearly convergent with Polyrhachis .

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 6. C. cyrtomyrmodes Donisthorpe, minor worker. Fig. 4, front of head; Fig. 5, dorsum of mesosoma; Fig. 6, side of body.