Camponotus perjurus

Camponotus perjurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. perjurus
Binomial name
Camponotus perjurus Shattuck & McArthur, 2002 Specimen labels

This species appears to be a mimic of members of the Iridomyrmex purpureus species group. This is based on the purple or green iridescent colour which is similar to Iridomyrmex viridiaeneus. Also, only single foragers have been found and most of these have been collected in association with Iridomyrmex spodipilus and Camponotus prosseri. They have been found from central South Australia west into south-central Western Australia.

Identification

Head of minor worker produced upwards so that its attachment to the pronotum is well below its upper margin. Often with weak purple or green iridescent hue on head and body. The attachment of the head is unique to this species group, if not the genus, and will readily separate this species from others.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Camponotus minors of the southwestern Botanical Province
• Key to Australian Camponotus species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -27.91666667° to -34.06666667°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• perjurus. Camponotus perjurus Shattuck & McArthur, 2002: 88, figs. 60-62 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia, South Australia).
  • Status as species: McArthur, 2007a: 310; McArthur, 2010: 46; McArthur, 2014: 112.

Type Material

• Holotype, minor worker, 74km EbyN Cosmo Newberry, Western Australia, Australia, 13 November 1977, Feehan,J.E., ANIC32-017678, Australian National Insect Collection.

Description

Minor worker

Anterior clypeal margin wide, projecting, evenly convex and feebly crenulate, with a feeble medial carina. Pronotum and mesonotum a raised convexity which smoothly joins the feebly concave dorsal surface of the propodeum, the propodeal angle rounded, its posterior face short and straight, the ratio of dorsum to declivity about 4. Metanotal spiracles high, near the dorsal mesosomal surface. Petiolar node leaning forward, parallel anteriorly and posteriorly, with a long, weakly convex summit. Body red-brown except for gaster and parts of legs which are darker, sometimes with a weak purple or green iridescent hue. Entire body clothed in fine white indistinct pubescence with sparse long setae on the anterior and posterior of head, mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster, absent on the underside of head.

Measurements

Minor worker (n=5). CI 0.79 — 0.95; HL I .89mm — 2.31mm; HW 1.72mm - 1.84mm; ML 2.84mm - 3.1Imm; MTL 2.32mm - 2.43mm; PnW 1.41mm - 1.54mm; SI 1.22 - 1.28; SL 2.14mm - 2.30mm.

Etymology

From perjurus, to lie about one's true nature, alluding to the apparent mimicry of Iridomyrmex species.

References

• Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
• Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
• Shattuck, S.O. and McArthur, A.J. 2002. A taxonomic revision of the Camponotus wiederkehri and perjurus species-groups (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 126:63-90.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Shattuck S. O., A . J. McArthur. 2002. A taxonomic revision of the Camponotus wiederkehri and perjurus species-groups (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 126: 63-90.