Camponotus meghalayaensis, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023

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 : 10-13

Camponotus meghalayaensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E9A32FD2-AA7B-4A8D-BF8D-F76F73B92C1A

Figs 6–7

Diagnosis

The distinguishing characteristics of the species are as follows: the head is longer than broad; the petiole node is thick and bluntly rounded; the tibiae are compressed without spined beneath; body is reticulate punctate, somewhat matte and sparsely pubescent.

This species resembles C. mitis (F. Smith, 1858) and can be distinguished by the following combination of characters; in C. meghalayaensis sp. nov. (major worker), the anterior clypeal margin is medially emarginated; the body is covered with sparse erect hairs or less pilose and the node of petiole is thick and bluntly rounded in shape. While in C. mitis (major worker), the anterior clypeal margin is not emarginated; the body is covered with erect dense pilosity and the node of the petiole is thin and scale-like.

Etymology

The species has been named after the state Meghalaya, from where it was discovered.

Type material

Holotype

INDIA • major worker; Meghalaya, Nongpoh ; 25.9194° N, 91.8649° E; elev. 475 m; 13 Nov. 2019; T. Dhadwal leg.; hand picking method; PUAC T51 .

Paratypes

INDIA • 6 workers; same collection data as for holotype; PUAC T55 to T60 .

Measurements

Holotype major worker

HL 2.58; HW 2.34; EL 0.59; SL 2.25; PW 1.23 ; WL 3.07; MTL 1.47; HTL 2.54; PL 0.69; PH 0.70; GL 2.33; TL 8.67; CI 83; SI 96; REL 22; PrI 52.

Paratype major worker (n = 1)

HL 2.66; HW 2.48; EL 0.61; SL 2.37; PW 1.35; WL 3.36; MTL 2.11; HTL 2.82; PL 0.77; PH 0.73; GL 2.46; TL 9.25; CI 107; SI 95; REL 22; PrI 54.

Paratypes minor workers (n = 5)

HL 1.76–1.88; HW 1.02–1.11; EL 0.45–0.49; SL 2.29–2.41; PW 1.02–1.06; WL 2.66–2.82; MTL 1.80– 1.96; HTL 2.25–2.54; PL 0.57–0.65; PH 0.61–0.65; GL 2.29–2.58; TL 7.28–7.93; CI 57–59; SI 217– 224; REL 25–26; PrI 95–100.

Description

Major worker ( Fig. 6 )

HABITUS. In full-face view, head longer than broad (CI 83–107), posterior margin of the head rounded and shallowly concave in the middle, lateral margins slightly converging towards the anterior side; anterior clypeal margin medially emarginated; mandibles with 7 teeth; eyes large placed near the midlength of the head; antennae long, slender and 12-segmented; scape short (SI 95–96) surpassing posterior margin of the head by ¼ of its length. In dorsal view, mesosoma broad and elongated, pronotum anteriorly narrow (PrI 54); pro-mesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct; mesosoma form a single convexity with mesonotum somewhat higher than the pronotum and propodeum in lateral view; propodeal declivity almost straight; propodeal spiracle oval in shape placed below the margin of propodeal declivity; petiole node is thick and bluntly rounded; tibiae compressed; gaster elongated.

SCULPTURE. Head and mesosoma reticulate punctate; head somewhat matte, whereas mesosoma and gaster are gleaming.

PILOSITY AND PUBESCENCE. Pubescence sparse, with a few setae present on the vertex and anterior margin of the clypeus; lateral sides of the head covered with sparse short erect hair; hind tibia densely setose, without a row of spiny bristles on ventral margin in addition to 3–4 suberect setae close to the apical spur.

COLOURATION. Head and gaster dark brown; mesosoma yellowish brown to reddish brown; legs lighter brown.

Minor worker ( Fig. 7 )

Differs from the major worker in the following characteristics: head smaller and elongated (CI 57–59), longer than broad and narrower posteriorly than in the fornt, with the posterior margin almost rounded and sub-parallel lateral margins; anterior clypeal margin straight; eyes comparatively large touching the lateral sides of the head; mandibles with 6 teeth; scape distinctly long (SI 217–224) surpassing posterior margin of head by half of its length; mesosoma is shorter than the one of major worker.

Habitat

The workers were collected moving around the house at the type locality (Nongpoh) and were observed entering a crack in the floor. The region has an average temperature of 30°C and has residential areas surrounded by forest.

Figures

Fig. 6. Camponotus meghalayaensis sp. nov., holotype, major worker (PUAC T51). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Fig. 7. Camponotus meghalayaensis sp. nov., paratype, minor worker (PUAC T57). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.