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Camponotus Myrmamblys inquilinus species group
Based on Zettel et al. 2018.
Species
- Camponotus benguetensis
- Camponotus concurrens
- Camponotus inquilinus
- Camponotus kutteri
- Camponotus paracolobopsis
- Camponotus paraleonardi
- Camponotus schulzianus
- Camponotus sophiae
- Camponotus syaukanii
- Camponotus trietericus
- Camponotus weiserti
Identification
Key to Camponotus Myrmamblys inquilinus species group
Diagnosis
Small species, HW (minor) 1.11–1.55, HW (major) 1.67–1.96, with a strongly dimorphic worker caste, including a phragmotic major worker. Minor worker: Microsculpture relatively uniform, consisting of fine isodiametric meshes. With numerous stiff, erect or suberect, acuminate setae all over dorsum (except with short setae on pronotum in two species). Head roundish or domed on vertex, always longer than wide. Distance of antennal insertions in the range of Camponotus (ASM/HWex = 0.26–0.36, ASM/CLW = 0.55–0.73). Clypeus distinctly wider than long (CLW/CLL = 1.12–1.61) with anterolateral extremities neither extended nor set off from rest of clypeus by a sulcus or impression; base often emarginate. In most species frontal carinae relatively short and antennal insertion approximately at their midlength. Mandible punctate, with five teeth. Scape long and slender. Mesosoma elongated, narrow, and low, not strongly constricted; propodeum unmodified, without elevations of outline in lateral aspect. Gaster variably coloured, but never with strongly contrasting yellow marks or broad translucent hind margins of tergites. Major worker (not known in all species): Head phragmotic, obliquely truncated; anterior part (clypeus and genae) often with coarse punctures. All appendages much shorter than in minor worker. Setae often reduced. Gyne (only known in few species): Head shape intermediate. Sculpture of head similar to major worker.
Minor workers of this group strongly resemble species of Colobopsis, specifically of the Colobopsis cylindrica group (sensu Emery 1925, modified and discussed by Laciny et al. 2018). However, the minor workers of the C. inquilinus group differ from the Colobopsis cylindrica group by long, stiff setae on mesosoma and petiole, a shallowly convex dorsal outline of the petiole (not medially flat or shallowly concave), and smaller mesothoracic and propodeal spiracles. In addition, the measurements of C. inquilinus group species largely fit the discrimination characters of Camponotus presented by Ward et al. (2016) (see Table 1, Zettel et al. 2018). Moreover, in some species pupae are confirmed to be not naked as in Colobopsis, but with cocoons as in Camponotus (comp. Wheeler 1904).
Distribution
As far as known, this group is distributed from Myanmar eastwards to Borneo and the Philippines. This area largely overlaps with the distribution of the Colobopsis cylindrica group, which, however, reaches Sulawesi in the east.
Biology
We have evidence that at least some of the treated species are associated with species of Colobopsis, which closely resemble the respective species in colouration. Although their biology is still poorly studied, this fact suggests some form of mimicry, probably linked to a parabiotic lifestyle in the C. inquilinus group. See biological notes for Camponotus inquilinus Camponotus trietericus, and Camponotus paracolobopsis.
Notes
We place the C. inquilinus group within Myrmamblys and thereby follow a system used by most of the previous authors (Emery 1925, Santschi 1926). Deviating from Emery (1925), who placed Camponotus kutteri in the C. reticulatus group, we preliminarily include this species in our new species group. Species of the C. reticulatus group have various modifications of the propodeum, which is either saddle-shaped anteriorly or with long posterior convexity. Species of the C. inquilinus group, on the other hand, are lacking peculiar modifications of the dorsal mesosomal outline. In addition, the species included in the C. inquilinus group lack yellow patches and broad translucent hind margins of tergites as commonly seen in species of the C. reticulatus group. The common character of the C. inquilinus group is a strong similarity to species of the Colobopsis cylindrica group, a fact that is interpreted as a form of mimicry.