Camponotus auropubens

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Camponotus auropubens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Species group: grandidieri
Species: C. auropubens
Binomial name
Camponotus auropubens
Forel, 1894

Camponotus auropubens casent0134842 profile 1.jpg

Camponotus auropubens casent0134842 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Subspecies
Synonyms

Camponotus auropubens is widespread in the Afrotropics. In the Malagasy region, it is known from Madagascar and Seychelles. In Madagascar, the species has been found only from the north of the island, on the coastal scrub of Sakalava bay, the dry forest of the Montagne Français and Joffre Ville. In Seychelles, the species occurs in casuarina forest, coastal scrub, and along lowland coastal areas of some of the Aldabra and Cosmoledo atolls. The species nests in rotten logs and forages on the ground in these habitats (Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017).

Identification

A member of the Camponotus grandidieri species group.

Rakotonirina et al. (2017) - Body color black. A few pairs of whitish erect hairs confined to posteromedian portion of head; gap between two hairs on promesonotum usually larger than length of hair. Erect hairs on uppermost portion of petiolar node, posterodorsal angle of propodeum and junction between lateral propodeal surface and declivity shorter than distance between posteroventral angle of mesosoma and propodeal spiracle.

Individual workers of C. auropubens are difficult to separate from those of Camponotus grandidieri by visual inspection of body shape. This is indicated by the overlap of the ratio values between the measured morphological characters (See Table 1). However, careful observation of the patterns of erect hairs on the dorsum of the body indicates that the latter species has longer erect hairs on the uppermost portion of the petiolar node, posterodorsal angle of propodeum, and junction between lateral propodeal surface and declivity. These hairs are longer than the distance between the posteroventral angle of the mesosoma and the propodeal spiracle.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 4.75° to -30.30123145°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Mozambique (type locality), Zimbabwe.
Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Seychelles (type locality).

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

MCZ-ENT00513670 Camponotus auropubens auropubens hef 2-5.jpgMCZ-ENT00513670 Camponotus auropubens auropubens hal 1-6.jpgMCZ-ENT00513670 Camponotus auropubens auropubens had 1-6.jpgMCZ-ENT00513670 Camponotus auropubens auropubens lbs.jpg
. Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Minor Worker

MCZ-ENT00513669 Camponotus sp17 hef 4.jpgMCZ-ENT00513669 Camponotus sp17 hal 2.jpgMCZ-ENT00513669 Camponotus sp17 had 2.jpgMCZ-ENT00513669 Camponotus sp17 lbs.jpg
.

Images from AntWeb

Camponotus auropubens casent0178199 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens casent0178199 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens casent0178199 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens casent0178199 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0178199. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 label 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102315 label 1.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0102315. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102314 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102314 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102314 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102314 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0102314. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102316 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102316 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102316 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102316 label 1.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0102316. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102447 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102447 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102447 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102447 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0102447. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104617 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104617 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104617 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104617 label 1.jpg
Type of unavailable quadrinomial: Camponotus foraminosus aldabrensis fryeriWorker. Specimen code casent0104617. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ZMHB, Berlin, Germany.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104618 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104618 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104618 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104618 label 1.jpg
Type of Camponotus foraminosus aldabrensisWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0104618. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ZMHB, Berlin, Germany.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104619 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104619 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104619 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0104619 label 1.jpg
Type of Camponotus foraminosus aldabrensisWorker. Specimen code casent0104619. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ZMHB, Berlin, Germany.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0101126 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0101126 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0101126 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0101126 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0101126. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.
Camponotus olivieri casent0910490 h 1 high.jpgCamponotus olivieri casent0910490 p 1 high.jpgCamponotus olivieri casent0910490 d 1 high.jpgCamponotus olivieri casent0910490 l 1 high.jpg
Lectotype of Camponotus olivieri fryeriWorker. Specimen code casent0910490. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus olivieri casent0910489 h 1 high.jpgCamponotus olivieri casent0910489 p 1 high.jpgCamponotus olivieri casent0910489 d 1 high.jpgCamponotus olivieri casent0910489 l 1 high.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus olivieri fryeriWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0910489. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102448 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102448 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102448 profile 2.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102448 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102448 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0102448. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102450 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102450 head 2.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102450 profile 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102450 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102450 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0102450. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Male

Images from AntWeb

Camponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102449 head 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102449 profile 2.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102449 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus auropubens aldabrensis casent0102449 label 1.jpg
Male (alate). Specimen code casent0102449. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Nomenclature

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

  • auropubens. Camponotus foraminosus r. auropubens Forel, 1894b: 67 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE.
    • Combination in C. (Myrmotrema): Santschi, 1914e: 41.
    • Subspecies of grandidieri: Mayr, 1895: 150.
    • Subspecies of foraminosus: Emery, 1895a: 182; Emery, 1896d: 376 (in list); Emery, 1896i: 159; Emery, 1897e: 604; Forel, 1907g: 90; Forel, 1909b: 66; Santschi, 1914e: 41; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 250, 979.
    • Status as species: Santschi, 1915c: 267 (in key), 274; Arnold, 1924: 728; Emery, 1925b: 131; Bolton, 1995b: 87; Rakotonirina, et al. 2017: 218 (redescription).
    • Senior synonym of aldabrensis: Rakotonirina, et al. 2017: 218.
    • Senior synonym of freyeri: Rakotonirina, et al. 2017: 218.
    • Current subspecies: nominal plus absalon, argentopubens, jacob.
  • aldabrensis. Camponotus foraminosus r. aldabrensis Forel, 1897c: 203 (s.w.) ALDABRA I.
    • Combination in C. (Myrmotrema): Santschi, 1915c: 267.
    • Subspecies of foraminosus: Emery, 1898a: 227; Santschi, 1911e: 133; Forel, 1912k: 166; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1050.
    • Subspecies of auropubens: Santschi, 1915c: 267 (in key); Emery, 1925b: 131; Bolton, 1995b: 85; Dorow, 1996a: 85.
    • Junior synonym of auropubens: Rakotonirina, et al. 2017: 218.
  • fryeri. Camponotus (Myrmotrema) olivieri st. freyeri Santschi, 1915c: 270 (in key).
    • [First available use of Camponotus foraminosus subsp. aldabrensis var. fryeri Forel, 1912k: 166 (w.) SEYCHELLES IS (Aldabra I.); unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
    • [Justified emendation of spelling to fryeri: Emery, 1925b: 132 (as original collector named as Fryer, in Forel, 1913k: 166).]
    • Subspecies of olivieri: Emery, 1925b: 132; Bolton, 1995b: 100; Dorow, 1996a: 85.
    • Junior synonym of auropubens: Rakotonirina, et al. 2017: 219.

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

Description

Worker

Rakotonirina et al. (2017) – Minor In full-face view head small (CS: 1.36±0.14; 1.19–1.70) and longer than broad (CWb/CL: 0.88±0.03; 0.84–0.92), lateral margins roughly straight and slightly converging anteriorly; posterior margin more or less convex. Median portion of clypeus transversely trapezoidal (ClyL/GPD: 0.70±0.03; 0.65– 0.79). Eyes rarely breaking lateral outlines of head, their posterior level located at posterior fifth portion of head (PoOc/CL: 0.19±0.01; 0.18–0.21). Anterior clypeal margin truncate with blunt lateral angle; posterior margin weakly notched medially. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin with six sharp teeth. Antennal scape long, roughly its apical third portion extending beyond posterior cephalic border. In lateral view, promesonotal dorsum generally convex, without anterior and dorsolateral margination; propodeal dorsum straight and inclined posteriorly. In dorsal view, mesosoma widest at level of pronotum and decreasing in width towards propodeal declivity; propodeum tapering dorsally. Opening of propodeal spiracle slitlike. Petiolar node flattened anteroposteriorly and tapering dorsally. Tibial spurs of middle and hind legs pectinate.

Dorsum of head and mesosoma with much finer and denser reticulate punctures than lateral portion. Gastral tergites finely and densely reticulate-punctate. Mandible imbricate-punctate. Whitish erect hairs thinner on dorsum of head and promesonotum, becoming thicker on propodeum, petiolar node, and gastral segments. Composition of hairs: a few pairs on median portion of head from clypeus to near posterior cephalic margin; pronotum with a few pairs, mesonotum with one to three pairs, propodeal dorsum and junction of lateral propodeal surface and declivity with scattered hairs. Posterodorsal angle of propodeum, junction between lateral propodeal surface, and declivity and dorsalmost posterolateral margin of petiolar node with whitish erect hairs shorter than distance between opening of propodeal spiracle and posteroventral angle of mesosoma. Pubescence on dorsum of body longer than distance between hairs; pubescence present on upper half of mesopleuron. Body color black and more or less matte; appendages basally reddish or dark brown, apical portion and antennae brown to light brown.

Major Characteristics of minor worker, except: head much larger and subquadrate (CS: 1.98±0.32; 1.54–2.41; CWb/CL: 1.02±0.07; 0.91–1.10); lateral margins broadly convex. Mandible more strongly built. Median portion of clypeus elongate and more rectangular (ClyL/GPD: 0.88±0.07; 0.78–0.97; ClyL/CL: 0.37±0.11; 0.32–0.61). Eyes located medially farther from lateral border of head (CWb/CL: 1.02±0.07; 0.91–1.10; CW/CL: 0.90±0.04; 0.86–0.97), their posterior margins level at posterior fourth of head capsule (PoOc/CL: 0.22±0.02; 0.19–0.26). Roughly one fourth of apical portion of scape extending beyond posterior cephalic margin. In dorsal view, metanotal groove slightly impressed; metanotum not visible. Sculpture of lateral portion of head from near base of mandible, along level of frontal carina to near posterior cephalic margin imbricate, superimposed with larger punctures that are equipped with two to five smaller punctures from which one appressed hair arises. Whitish erect hairs numerous on promesonotum. Basal portion of legs and mandibles reddish to dark brown; apical portion and antenna much lighter in color.

Type Material

Rakotonirina et al. (2017) - Lectotype major worker, Mozambique, Delagoa Bay [Maputo] (Liengme), AntWeb CASENT0910475 (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined]. Paralectotype worker of same data as lectotype but with specimen code: CASENT0911819 (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) [examined].

  • Camponotus foraminosus auropubens: Syntype, 1 major worker, Maputo (as Delagoa Bay), Mozambique, Liengme, CASENT0910475, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève; reported (but not designated) as lectotype by Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 218.
  • Camponotus foraminosus auropubens: Syntype, 1 worker, Maputo (as Delagoa Bay), Mozambique, Liengme, CASENT0911819, Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel; reported (but not designated) as paralectotype by Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 218.
  • Camponotus foraminosus aldabrensis: Syntype, 1 minor worker, Aldabra, Seychelles, Voeltzkow, CASENT0172791, Museum of Comparative Zoology; reported (but not designated) as lectotype by Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 218.
  • Camponotus olivieri freyeri: Lectotype (designated by Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 219), minor worker, Aldabra, Seychelles, Fryer, CASENT0910490, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
  • Camponotus olivieri freyeri: Paralectotype (designated by Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 219), 1 major worker, Aldabra, Seychelles, Fryer, CASENT0910489, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
  • Camponotus olivieri freyeri: Paralectotype (designated by Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 219), 1 minor worker, Aldabra, Seychelles, Fryer, CASENT0104617, Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Arnold G. 1924. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part VI. Camponotinae. Annals of the South African Museum 14: 675-766.
  • Dorow, Wolfgang H. O. 1995. Review and Bibliography of the ants of the Seychelles (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Afr. Zool. 110:73-96
  • Dorow, Wolfgang H.O. 1996. Review and bibliography of the ants of the Seychelles. Journal of African Zoology 110(2): 73-95.
  • Fisher B. L. 1997. Biogeography and ecology of the ant fauna of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 31: 269-302.
  • Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.
  • Forel A. 1897. Ameisen aus Nossi-Bé, Majunga, Juan de Nova (Madagaskar), den Aldabra-Inseln und Sansibar, gesammelt von Herrn Dr. A. Voeltzkow aus Berlin. Mit einem Anhang über die von Herrn Privatdocenten Dr. A. Brauer in Marburg auf den Seychellen und von Herrn Perrot auf Ste. Marie (Madagaskar) gesammelten Ameisen. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 21: 185-208.
  • Forel A. 1912. The Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905, under the leadership of Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, M.A. Volume 4. No. XI. Fourmis des Seychelles et des Aldabras, reçues de M. Hugh Scott. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. (2) 15: 159-167.
  • Menozzi C. 1930. Formiche della Somalia italiana meridionale. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana. 9: 76-130.
  • Rakotonirina J. C., S. Csosz, and B. L. Fisher. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the Malagasy Camponotus grandidieri and niveosetosus species groups (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology. Zootaxa 4238 (2): 203–245.
  • Santschi F. 1911. Nouvelles fourmis de Madagascar. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 19: 117-134.
  • Santschi F. 1915. Nouvelles fourmis d'Afrique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 84: 244-282.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 39-269.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. IX. A synonymic list of the ants of the Malagasy region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 1005-1055
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004