Camponotus xuthus Emery, 1925

McArthur, A. J., 2009, New species, new status and new synonymy for Camponotus from Australia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Myrmecologische Nachrichten 12, pp. 273-286 : 285

Camponotus xuthus Emery, 1925 stat.n. (Figs. 19, 20)

Camponotus nigroaeneus r.divus var.xuthus Forel, 1915 - unavailable name. Camponotus nigroaeneus ssp.xuthus Emery, 1925 .

Type material examined: 2 syntypes (MHNG): 1 major and 1 minor worker "Typus Kimberley Dist".

Other material examined (in SAMA): Western Australia: Turtle Island (19° 54' S, 118° 55' E), 10.VII.2001, leg. A.Postle.South Australia: Mount Aroona (30° 37' S, 138° 23' E), 5. XII. 1997, leg. SADEH NW Flinders Ranges Survey; Vokes Hill, 28 km E (28° 29' S, 130° 51' E), 14.IV.2002, leg. SADEH Sandy Desert Survey.

Worker description: Major worker. Head sides anterior two thirds straight and parallel, posterior third convex tapering anteriorly. Vertex mostly flat in front view and swollen in lateral view. Clypeus anterior margin median section strongly concave and bounded by two teeth. Pro-podeal dorsum straight, propodeal angle gently convex, about 135°. PD / D ~ 12.5. Petiolar node summit blunt in side view. Mesosoma in profile dorsum with about 30 fairly evenly spaced long erect setae. Underside of head and genae with plentiful erect long setae; scape and tibiae with plentiful short decumbent setae raised to <20°. Colour: mostly reddish brown.

Minor worker. Finely punctate. Head sides straight and near parallel. Vertex mostly convex. Clypeus anterior margin projecting strongly and bounded by 90° corners. Pro-podeal dorsum feebly convex. Propodeal angle gently convex about 150°. PD / D ~ 3. Petiolar node summit blunt in side view. Mesosoma in profile dorsum with about 20 fairly evenly spaced long erect setae. Underside of head and genae with plentiful erect short setae; scape and tibiae with plentiful short setae raised to> 20°. Colour: mostly reddish brown.

Morphometrics: Syntype major worker, HW 2.5, HL 2.7, PW 1.0, FCW 1.0, HT 0.8, TL 2.0; syntype minor worker, HW 1.5, HL 1.8, PW 1.90, FCW 0.70, HT 1.1, TL 1.8.

Comparative notes: The integument of the gaster in C.xuthus stat.n. is not hidden by pubescence and the ant is brown whereas C.nigroaeneus has distinct short whitish decumbent setae (pubescence) which hide the gaster and is mostly black. Distribution: See Fig. 20.