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Camponotus akiae
| Camponotus akiae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Camponotus |
| Subgenus: | Myrmamblys |
| Species: | C. akiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Camponotus akiae Yamane & Hosoishi, 2023 | |
This small Myrmamblys species, with a clear worker dimorphism, is known only from the type locality (Tokashiki-jima, C. Ryukyus).
Photo Gallery
Yamane & Hosoishi (2023), Fig. 1. Camponotus (Myrmamblys) akiae. A: Paratype minor worker, profile view, B: Ditto, head in full-face view, C: Ditto, dorsal view, D: Paratype major worker, head in fullface view, E. Paratype queen, profile view, F. Ditto, head in full-face view, G. Ditto, dorsal view. Scales: 0.5 mm.
Identification
Yamane & Hosoishi (2023) - Among the Japanese species of the subgenus Myrmamblys this species is peculiar in having a rather sharply defined lateral margin of the pronotum in the minor worker (Fig. 1A); the margin is blunter in the major worker, and not recognized in the queen. The outer margin of the eye distinctly breaks the lateral margin of the head in the minor worker (Fig. 1B, C) as in Camponotus yamaokai (in most of the other Japanese members the outer eye margin barely reaches the lateral margin of the head or only slightly breaks the latter). In some Japanese members of the subgenus the basal (fifth) mandibular tooth of the minor worker is often much larger than the subbasal (fourth) tooth and bifid apically (or a small swelling present behind the basal tooth), but it is almost as large as the subbasal tooth and simple in the new species. However, in the major worker and queen, the basal tooth is large and bifid apically or an isolated sixth tooth is seen in the present and other species known in Japan. In this species the jet-black body color in the minor worker is contrasted with much paler (yellowish) legs (Fig. 1A–C) (in the major worker and queen less conspicuous); in other Japanese species the legs can be paler than the body, but the contrast is always less conspicuous. Unfortunately, as only one colony has been collected for this species the variation in structural and color characters remains to be studied with additional samples.
Distribution
Nansei Islands.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 26.2° to 26.2°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Yamane & Hosoishi, 2023
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan (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. |
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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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- akiae. Camponotus (Myrmamblys) akiae Yamane & Hosoishi, 2023: 261, figs. 1A-G (w.q.) JAPAN.
- Type-material: holotype minor worker, 10 paratype major workers, 10 paratype minor workers, 1 paratype queen.
- Type-locality: holotype Japan: Central Ryukyu Is, the Kerama group, Tokashiki-jima, Aharen, 24.v.2022, JP22-SKY-037 (Sk. Yamane); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: SKYC (holotype); KUEC, SKYC (paratypes).
- Distribution: Japan.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Minor (n = 6) TL 3.0–3.3, HW 0.76–0.83 , HL 0.84–0.95, EW 0.17–0.18, EL 0.20–0.23, SL 0.76–0.88, PrW 0.60–0.68, PtW 0.32–0.36, CI 87.4–90.9, SI 98.8–110.
Head in full-face view short, slightly longer than broad, narrowed anteriad; its posterior margin broadly convex with rather well-defined median portion that is almost straight to very shallowly convex; posterolateral corner of head broadly rounded. Eye relatively large with more than 15 ommatidia along longest axis of eye; with head in full-face view outer margin of eye distinctly breaking lateral margin of head. Antennal scape surpassing posterolateral corner of head by its 1/4 length; pedicel longer than first flagellar (third antennal) segment; each flagellar segment longer than broad; terminal segment longer than pedicel. Maxillary palp 6-segmented; labial palp 4-segmented. Frontal carinae raised, almost reaching level of mid-length of eye; frontal lobe ill developed, covering only small part of antennal socket; median frontal line weak, not attaining level of posterior end of frontal carina. Clypeus broader than long, posteriorly emarginate in middle, with longitudinal median keel blunt but distinct; anterior margin broadly and shallowly convex, very shallowly emarginate medially. Mandible subtriangular, with outer margin roundly convex; masticatory margin with five teeth that gradually decrease in size toward mandibular base; basal tooth almost as large as subbasal tooth. With mesosoma in dorsal view, pronotum distinctly broader than long, nearly rectangular, laterally distinctly marginated; promesonotal suture distinct, nearly straight; mesonotum narrower than pronotum, distinctly narrowed posteriad; metanotal groove absent; propodeal dorsum narrow (but ridge not acute), not clearly separated from lateral face. With mesosoma in profile view, outline of pronotum and mesonotum almost straight and continuous; propodeal dorsum sloping posteriad; posterodorsal corner weakly angulate; declivity steep; lateral face of pronotum sharply demarcated from mesopleuron; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum fused together; propodeal spiracle positioned low, close to posterior margin of propodeum. Petiole in posterior view round, as broad as high, broadest at mid-height, with dorsal margin nearly straight; in profile view short (thin), apically narrowed, with anterior and posterior slopes nearly parallel, but former shallowly convex and latter straight. Gaster in dorsal view broader than head, in profile view with anterior slope vertical, rounding into dorsal surface.
Dorsum of head finely punctate and weakly shiny; punctuation on area between eye and frontal carina/clypeus stronger; mandible finely puncto-striate. Pronotal dorsum longitudinally puncto-striate; mesonotum very superficially microreticulate; propodeal dorsum superficially with transverse striae; lateral face of mesosoma extensively striate in front-back direction. Anterior and posterior faces of petiole superficially and finely striate and shiny. Gastral tergites superficially microstriate and weakly shiny.
Head dorsum sparsely with short appressed to suberect pubescence; vertex with a pair of long erect hairs. Clypeus with many appressed to erect hairs of various lengths. Mandible covered with decumbent to suberect hairs of various lengths. Eye with sparse microscopic hairs. Antennal scape with appressed/decumbent short hairs; a few suberect longer hairs present on its dorsal face; apex of scape with several stronger hairs; pedicel and flagellar segments densely covered with appressed to suberect short hairs. Mesosomal dorsum with very short pubescence; mesonotum with a pair of long erect hairs; propodeal declivity with 2-3 pairs of erect hairs. Petiole bearing one pair of erect hairs on dorsum laterally and 2-3 pairs on lateral margins. Erect hairs on gastral tergites sparse; those on tergite 1 longer than others. Body almost entirely jet-black; mandible, antenna, pronotal lobe, metanotal lobe and petiolar sternite brownish; legs yellowish.
Major (n = 6). TL 4.0–4.5, HW 1.14–1.33 , HL 1.20–1.36, EW 0.19–0.22, EL 0.26–0.31, SL 0.76–1.13, PrW 0.74–0.85, PtW 0.43–0.48, CI 93.0–98.3, SI 64.4–85.0.
Similar to minor workers in structure, sculpture, pilosity and coloration, except in the following respects. Body, especially head, larger; head in full-face view more quadrant, only slightly narrower anteriad, with posterior margin straight to very shallowly concave and posterolateral corner more or less angulate; eye with ca. 20 ommatidia on longest axis, its outer margin barely reaching lateral margin of head; scape barely reaching posterolateral corner of head; frontal carina almost reaching level of posterior margin of eye; frontal lobe more developed, convex outwardly; clypeus as long as broad, broadest at mid-length, without median keel; mandible massive, stout, with five strong teeth of which the basal is large and bifid at apex; sculpture on anterior portion of frons and clypeus stronger; head and pronotum often more extensively brownish.
Queen
(n = 1). TL 7.3, HW 1.31 , HL 1.44, EW 0.28, EL 0.39, SL 0.93, PrW 1.08, PtW 0.57, CI 91.0, SI 71.0.
Head very similar to that of major worker, but eye larger with more than 30 ommatidia along longest axis, slightly breaking lateral margin of head; antennal scape surpassing posterolateral corner of head. With mesosoma in dorsal view, most part of pronotum invisible; mesoscutum large, occupying half of mesosomal dorsum, as broad as pronotum, anteriorly roundly convex, broadest just in front of wing bases; its anterior and lateral margins smoothly continuous; parapsidal line distinct, fading out at mid-length of scutum; mesoscutellum much narrower and shorter than mesoscutum; metanotum short (‘narrow’), distinctly demarcated from mesoscutellum and propodeum by sharp sulci; propodeal dorsum broader than metanotal disc. With mesosoma in profile view, pronotum with very steep anterior slope and rectangular lateral face; dorsal outline of mesoscutum flat, that of mesoscutellum sloping posteriad; mesopleuron large, clearly demarcated from pronotum and metapleuron, divided into upper and lower sectors by oblique mesopleural sulcus; metapleuron demarcated from mesopleuron by indistinct furrow, completely fused with lateral face of propodeum; dorsal outline of propodeum moderately sloping, and declivity almost vertical; propodeal spiracle located close to posterior margin of lateral face at around level of mid-height of declivity. Petiole in posterior view distinctly broader than high, with lateral margin convex and dorsal margin very shallowly emarginate; petiole in profile view distinctly higher than long, but ‘thicker’ than in minor and major workers, round at apex, with anterior slope convex and posterior slope straight; venter of petiole roundly produced downwardly.
Posterior half of head dorsum microscopically and superficially reticulate; area between frontal carinae with slightly stronger reticulation and sparse punctuation; area between eye and mandibular base/clypeus with coarse irregular sculpture; Mandible medially smooth and shiny with sparse macropunctures, but along outer margin coarsely sculptured. Mesosomal dorsum micropunctate to microscopically reticulate and weakly shiny; lateral face of pronotum and mesopleuron mainly microscopically punctate/reticulate; posterior portion of mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum laterally striate; propodeal declivity and posterior face of petiole superficially striate. Gastral tergites microscopically striate and weakly shiny.
Head sparsely covered with short appressed pubescence, a pair of long erect hairs present just in front of posterior ocelli; area between frontal carinae, clypeus, gena and mandible with many erect hairs. Mesosomal dorsum sparsely covered with short appressed pubescence, with sparse erect hairs. Pubescence on gastral tergites very sparse and minute; erect hairs very few except on apical segments; first gastral sternite bearing many erect hairs. Erect hairs on legs very few; outer faces of all tibiae completely lacking erect hairs.
Head black; mandible and antennal flagellum reddish brown; scape paler; mesosoma extensively dark reddish brown but pronotum and mesopleuron paler; petiole reddish brown; gaster dark reddish brown. Legs yellowish.
Type Material
- Holotype: minor worker, Aharen, Tokashiki-jima, the Kerama group, the Central Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 24.v.2022, Sk. Yamane leg., JP22-SKY-037 (SKYC).
- Paratypes: 1 dealated queen, 10 minor workers and 10 major workers, same data as the holotype (SKYC, KUEC).
Etymology
The specific epithet, akiae, is dedicated to Ms. Aki Ohnishi for her long-time support to our myrmecological activity.