Camponotus simoni

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Camponotus simoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Species: C. simoni
Binomial name
Camponotus simoni
Emery, 1893

Camponotus simoni casent0905249 p 1 high.jpg

Camponotus simoni casent0905249 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

During a field survey in India, Dhadwal & Bharti (2023) report this species was collected from Karianchola (Parambikulam National Park), Kerala. The nest was located in the deep forest. It was mound type located above the ground shared by termites also. The association is not determined yet. On disturbing, the workers started coming out, otherwise, no foraging worker was observed. The region has an average daily temperature of 32°C and is comprised of intact tropical wet evergreen forest.

Identification

Dhadwal & Bharti (2023) - This species resembles Camponotus mitis (major worker) but can be distinguished by:

  • its elongated head
  • the clypeal margin is shaped as a short lobe anteriorly truncate
  • the masticatory margin of mandibles with 6 teeth
  • the head and gaster are dark reddish-brown, with yellowish markings on the dorsal surface of the gaster
  • mesosoma, antennal flagella and legs are yellowish brown

While in C. mitis (major worker):

  • the head is subtriangular in shape
  • the clypeal margin is shaped as a short lobe anteriorly transverse
  • the masticatory margin of mandibles bears 7 teeth
  • the head and scape are dark brown to black
  • the mesosoma, petiolar and gastral colouration is variable from yellow-brown to dark brown
  • the tibiae and tarsi are usually darker

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Castes

  • Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023, Fig. 16. Camponotus simoni, major worker (PUAC T123). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.
  • Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023, Fig. 17. Camponotus simoni, minor worker (PUAC T127). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.
  • Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023, Fig. 18. Camponotus simoni, gyne (PUAC T133). A. Head in full face view. B. Body in profile view. C. Body in dorsal view.

Nomenclature

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

  • simoni. Camponotus simoni Emery, 1893f: 250 (s.w.) SRI LANKA.
    • Type-material: 1 syntype major worker, 2 syntype minor workers.
    • Type-localities: major worker Sri Lanka (“Ceylon”): Cottawa, i.-ii.1892 (E. Simon), minor workers Sri Lanka (“Ceylon”): Kandy, i.-ii.1892 (E. Simon).
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • Combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 90.
    • Subspecies of dorycus: Forel, 1895e: 455 (in text); Forel, 1902d: 288; Forel, 1908a: 6.
    • Status as species: Emery, 1896d: 370 (in list); Forel, 1911i: 227; Emery, 1925b: 90; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 250; Bolton, 1995b: 124; Dias, R.K.S. et al. 2020: 38; Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023d: 27.
    • Distribution: India, Sri Lanka.

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

Description

Worker

Major Dhadwal & Bharti (2023) - (n = 7) HL 2.52–2.70; HW 2.05–2.13; EL 0.45–0.49; SL 2.74–2.87; PW 1.43–1.47; WL 3.07–3.19; MTL 2.13– 2.46; HTL 3.09–3.19; PL 0.65–0.69; PH 0.63–0.65; GL 2.46–2.58; TL 8.70–9.16; CI 78–81; SI 133– 134; REL 17–18; PrI 69–70.

Habitus. In full-face view, head elongated, longer than broad (CI 78–81), posterior margin emarginated in the middle, occipital corners round, lateral margins convex anteriorly; clypeus carinate in the middle, clypeal margin produced as a short lobe anteriorly truncate; mandibles moderately broad with 6 teeth; eyes moderate in size, placed in front over the mid-length of the head; antennae long, slender and 12-segmented, scape long (SI 133–134), surpassing the posterior margin of head by ¹/5 of its length. In dorsal view, mesosoma elongated, pronotum anteriorly narrow (PrI 69–70) pro-mesonotal suture and metanotal groove distinct; mesonotum and propodeum compressed laterally; mesosoma strongly convex in lateral view; propodeal declivity slightly concave, propodeal spiracle round placed below the margin of propodeal declivity; petiole node thick, convex anteriorly and flat posteriorly, tapering towards the tip; tibiae compressed; gaster oval. Sculpture. Head, mesosoma and gaster minutely reticulated and matte; mandibles smooth and shiny with scattered. Pilosity and pubescence. Body pilose, long erect abundant yellowish hair on the vertex of head, mesosoma and gaster, a few short hairs present on anterior of head and clypeus; hind tibia without a row of spiny bristles on the ventral margin, but with 3–4 erect setae close to apical spurs. Colouration. Head and gaster dark reddish brown, with yellowish stripes on the dorsal side of the gaster; mesosoma, antennomeres and legs yellowish brown.


Minor (n = 7) HL 1.76–1.92; HW 0.77–0.94; EL 0.41–0.45; SL 3.07–3.15; PW 1.21–1.33; WL 2.95–3.11; MTL 2.21– 2.58; HTL 3.23–3.29; PL 0.57–0.61; PH 0.61–0.65; GL 2.13–2.27; TL 7.41–7.91; CI 43–48; SI 335– 398; REL 23; PrI 141–157.

All characteristics as of major worker except: in minor worker head is comparatively small (CI 43– 48) with round posterior margin and subparallel lateral margins converging anteriorly; clypeus margin anteriorly produced as a short round lobe; mandibles with 5 teeth; eyes moderate in size, placed laterally over the mid-length of the head; scape distinctly long (SI 335–398), surpassing posterior margin of head by half of its length; mesosoma short as compared to the major worker.

Queen

Dhadwal & Bharti (2023) - (n = 1) HL 2.79; HW 1.98; EL 0.68; SL 4.15; WL 4.46; MTL 2.41; HTL 3.03; PL 0.80; PH 1.05; GL 3.34; TL 11.39; CI 70; SI 209; REL 24.

Similar to the major worker with few modifications indicating the caste and the following differences: head narrower (CI 70) with subparallel lateral margins, posterior margin straight; cephalic dorsum with 3 prominent ocelli; mandibles with 6 teeth; scapes surpassing the posterior margin of head by half of their length (SI 209); propodeal declivity smoothly convex; head, scutellum and gaster with erect or suberect hairs.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
  • Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
  • Dias R. K. S. 2006. Current taxonomic status of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. The Fauna of Sri Lanka: 43-52. Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (Editor), 2006. Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation. The World Conservation Union, Colombo, Sri Lanka & Government of Sri Lanka. viii + 308pp.
  • Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
  • Emery C. 1886. Saggio di un catalogo sistematico dei generi Camponotus, Polyrhachis e affini. Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna 5: 363-382
  • Emery C. 1893. Voyage de M. E. Simon à l'île de Ceylan (janvier-février 1892). Formicides. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 62: 239-258.
  • Forel A. 1911. Ameisen aus Ceylon, gesammelt von Prof. K. Escherich (einige von Prof. E. Bugnion). Pp. 215-228 in: Escherich, K. Termitenleben auf Ceylon. Jena: Gustav Fischer, xxxii + 262 pp.
  • Forel, A. 1908. Fourmis de Ceylan et d'Égypte récoltées par le Prof. E. Bugnion. Lasius carniolicus. Fourmis de Kerguelen. Pseudandrie? Strongylognathus testaceus. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 44: 1-22
Retrieved from "https://antwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Camponotus_simoni&oldid=718184"