Camponotus kelimaso, 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 kelimaso sp. nov.

Figs 34B , 35A , 37A , 63

Holotype worker.

Madagascar: Province Antsiranana: PN Marojejy, Manantenina River, 27.6 km 35° NE Andapa, 9.6 km 327° NNW Manantenina, -14.435, 49.76, 775 m, rainforest, ex rotten log, 16 Nov 2003 (B.L. Fisher et al.) collection code: BLF09010, specimen code: CASENT0487718 ( CAS).

Paratypes.

3 minor workers of same data as holotype but specimens coded as: CASENT0837637, CASENT0837636, CASENT0837635 ( NHMUK, PBZT, CAS).

Additional material examined.

Madagascar: Antsiranana: Makirovana forest, -14.16666, 49.95, 715 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS); Makirovana forest, -14.10295, 50.01984, 390 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS); PN Marojejy, Manantenina River , 27.6 km 35° NE Andapa, 9.6 km 327° NNW Manantenina, -14.435, 49.76, 775 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher) ( CAS) . Fianarantsoa: Forêt d’Ambalagoavy Nord, Ikongo, Ambatombe , -21.857068, 47.37849, 625 m (R. Harin’Hala & M.E. Irwin) ( CAS) . Toamasina: RS Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river, -16.7755, 49.26427, 430 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS) RS Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , -16.7702, 49.26638, 470 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS) .

Diagnosis.

In full-face view, lateral margins of head anterior to eye level diverging posteriorly; anterior clypeal margin truncate; dorsum of second and third abdominal tergites lacking white spot; propodeal dorsum straight; body color dark brown; antennal scape without erect hairs.

Description.

Minor worker. In full-face view, head sides diverging towards anterior to level of eye, evenly rounding to approximately straight posterior margin; head widest at eye level; eyes almost flattened and small (EL/CS: 0.19 ± 0.01; 0.16-0.21), not breaking lateral cephalic margin, level of posterior margin located approximately at posterior 1/3 of head (PoOc/CL: 0.28 ± 0.01; 0.27-0.29); frontal carinae more or less wide (FR/CS: 0.31 ± 0.02; 0.28-0.34), posteriorly diverging, distance between them smaller than their smallest distance to eye; clypeus with anterolateral angle and approximately straight anteromedian margin; mandible with two apical teeth distantly spaced; antennal scape relatively short (SL/CS: 1.19 ± 0.05; 1.11-1.27). Promesonotum weakly convex; mesonotum with posterior portion flat immediately anterior to weakly visible metanotal groove; propodeal dorsum almost straight, its angle to declivity widely rounded; propodeal dorsum ca. 2 × as long as declivity. Petiolar node flattened anteroposteriorly, without obvious dorsal margin; anterior face almost the same height as posterior face; femur of hind leg rounded axially, not twisted basally.

First and second gastral tergites without a pair of white spots; lateral cephalic margin with erect hairs anterior to level of eyes; no erect hairs on lateral margin of head posterior to eye level; two erect hairs present near posterior margin; antennal scape only covered with appressed hairs; pronotum with few erect hairs; mesonotum with a pair of erect hairs; two erect hairs present on anterior to posterodorsal corner of propodeum. Body color reddish brown to pale brown.

Major worker. Differing from minor worker in the following characters: enlarged head (CS: 2.83 ± 0.25; 2.35-3.15; CWb/CL: 0.99 ± 0.04; 0.92-1.04) with broadly concave posterior margin; apical 1/4 of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; robust mesosoma with separate convexity of promesonotum, lower position of metanotum and propodeum, propodeal dorsum approximately the same length as declivity surface and with rounded junction; petiolar node more flattened anteroposteriorly.

Distribution and biology.

The distribution of C. kelimaso is limited to the eastern lowland rainforest of Madagascar between the Makirovana forest in the north and the Forêt d’Ambalagoavy Nord in the south (Fig. 63D ). It nests mainly in rotten logs and rarely in root mat layers in the ground. Foraging is carried out on the ground and through leaf litter.

Discussion.

Camponotus kelimaso can be separated from C. immaculatus by its straight propodeal dorsum. It can be differentiated from C. lubbocki by the approximately straight posterior margin of the head and its small compound eyes.

Based on the information provided by the NC-clustering method, the grouping of C. kelimaso supports the distinction of the species by conventional qualitative taxonomy. The confirmatory LDA identified the samples successfully at 100%.

Etymology.

The species name kelimaso is a non-latin word derived from the Malagasy word for "small eye". It refers to the fact that its compound eyes are small compared to those of other species in the subgenus Camponotus Myrmosaga .

Figures

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

Figure 35. Second and third abdominal tergites in dorsal view A C. kelimaso (CASENT 0487718) B C. quadrimaculatus (CASENT 0096044) C C. gibber (CASENT 0491497).

Figure 37. Head in full-face view A C. kelimaso (CASENT 0487718) B C. lubbocki (CASENT 0486998).

Figure 63. Camponotus kelimaso A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of holotype minor worker CASENT 0487718 D distribution map.