Camponotus anezkae

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Camponotus anezkae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Species: C. anezkae
Binomial name
Camponotus anezkae
Klimes & McArthur, 2014

Klimes-mcarthur-2014-myrm-news-6Camponotus-anezkae1.jpg

In a series of studied forest plots in New Guinea (Klimes & McArthur, 2014) this species was found only one. The colony occupied twigs of a hollow liana along the main trunk of a canopy tree Melanolepis multiglandulosa RCHB.F. & ZOLL. (Euphorbiaceae) at height 10 - 13 m above ground in the secondary forest. Several nest chambers with brood and several hundred workers were noted in the main trunk as well as in branches of the liana, probably forming a single colony.

Identification

Klimes & McArthur (2014) - The combination of evenly convex mesosoma, presence of deep metanotal groove and rounded propodeal angle in major and minor workers distinguishes this species from all other Camponotus species with phragmosis. Camponotus from New Guinea resembles C. anezkae in convex shape of pronotum and mesonotum, mesosoma reticulation, pubescence and lighter front of the head. However, Camponotus flavocassis differs significantly in slightly humped propodeum meeting propodeal declivity at an abrupt right angle, and much smaller distance among frontal carinae approaching only one third of head width.

Head colouring of Camponotus anezkae varies greatly within a nest in both major workers and queens from yellow to black, probably depending on the age and sclerotisation of individuals.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Worker

minor

Klimes-mcarthur-2014-myrm-news-6Camponotus-anezkae2.jpgKlimes-mcarthur-2014-myrm-news-6Camponotus-anezkae3.jpg
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Queen

Klimes-mcarthur-2014-myrm-news-6Camponotus-anezkaeQ.jpg
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Male

Klimes-mcarthur-2014-myrm-news-6Camponotus-anezkaeM.jpg
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Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • anezkae. Camponotus anezkae Klimes & McArthur, 2014: 145, figs. 4-5 (s.w.q.m.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
    • Type-material: holotype minor worker, 4 paratype major workers, 4 paratype minor workers, 2 paratype queens.
    • Type-locality: holotype Papua New Guinea: Madang Prov., Wanang (05°14’S, 145°11’E), 25.x.2007, HP0616 (P. Klimes); paratypes with same data.
    • Type-depositories: SAMA (holotype); IECA, NAIC, NHMW, SAMA (paratypes).
    • Distribution: Papua New Guinea.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Major Structures: in side view, front of head convex, only a change in radius separates the clypeus from its posterior. Mesosoma fairly evenly convex, with distinct metanotum resembling a trough. Propodeal angle well rounded and about 120°, declivity nearly concave, ratio dorsum / declivity about 0.8. Node front convex, back mostly straight, summit blunt. Fore femora about 1.5 times thicker than others. Integument glossy, very finely reticulate especially laterally on mesosoma and coxae. Head in front view: sides weakly convex and tapering to the front, vertex weakly convex; most of clypeus, anterior head and closed mandibles form a circular flattish surface, coarsely punctate. Anterior margin of clypeus projecting a little, notched in centre. Mandibles with four teeth. Frontal carinae distance approximately half of head width.

Pilosity: erect setae very sparse, none on gula, a few decumbent on scapes and tibiae, adpressed setae sparse all over.

Colour: mostly black, coxae and sutures of gaster whitish-yellow, head light brown except vertex which is darker.

Minor Structures: in side view, anterior front of head and clypeus convex, separated by a depression. Mesosoma convex with metanotum resembling a trough, propodeal angle rounded, declivity nearly concave, ratio dorsum / declivity about one. Node tall, its front convex, back mostly straight, summit blunt. Fore femora about 1.5 times thicker than others. Integument similar to major workers but without punctures on head. Head in front view: sides straight, tapering to front, vertex convex; anterior margin of clypeus convex and projects strongly, without a carina. Mandibles with four teeth. Frontal carinae distance approximately half of head width.

Pilosity: similar to major worker.

Colour: mostly black, mandibles, clypeus and scapes brown. Coxae and sutures of gaster whitish-yellow.

Queen

CI = 90, EL = 0.47, FCD = 0.70, HL = 1.54, HW = 1.38, ML = 2.67, PW = 1.24, SI = 84, SL = 1.16.

Structures: head form similar to major worker. Pronotum strongly convex, propodeum more rounded than in workers, propodeal declivity nearly straight, node as in major worker. Fore femora only slightly wider than others.

Pilosity: as in major worker.

Colour: as major worker but front of head whitish-yellow.

Male

CI = 97, EL = 0.33, FCD = 0.24, HL = 0.67, HW = 0.65, ML = 1.5, PW = 1.02, SI = 112, SL = 0.73.

Structures: in side view, pronotum dorsum nearly semicircular, node front and back near parallel, summit convex. In front view, head sides tapering to the front, vertex strongly convex; eyes very large protruding, their length of nearly half head length. Node small, summit blunt. Fore femora only slightly wider than others. Pilosity: extremely sparse, no setae on tibiae and scapes.

Colour: mostly grey black, with light brown tarsi.

Type Material

Holotype (minor worker, South Australian Museum): “Papua New Guinea: Madang Province, Wanang (05° 14' S, 145° 11' E), 25.X.2007, HP0616, leg. P. Klimes”. Paratypes: from the same nest series, labelled as above: 2 minor workers, 2 major workers, 1 queen (South Australian Museum); 1 minor worker and 1 major worker (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna), (National Agricultural Insect Collection); one individual of each caste (Czech Academy of Sciences).

Etymology

Named after the patron saint of Czechs, St. Agnes (Anezka) and dedicated to the beloved daughter of PK.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Klimes P., and A. McArthur. 2014. Diversity and ecology of arboricolous ant communities of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a New Guinea rainforest with descriptions of four new species. Myrmecological News 20: 141-158.