Camponotus crozieri

Camponotus crozieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. crozieri
Binomial name
	Camponotus crozieri; McArthur & Leys, 2006

A member of the Camponotus maculatus group. Members of this group share the following biological attributes: (a) mostly nocturnal, (b) nests are in clay soil, never in sand, (c) entrances to nests are well hidden, (c) strong attraction to honey bait at night, (d) domination. (McArthur and Leys 2006)

Identification

McArthur and Leys (2006) - Camponotus maculatus group species share the following distinguishing characters: 1. The most striking character is the distinct occipital carina in minor workers (see the dorsal head view of the minor worker in the caste images below). This forms a ridge externally and probably serves to strengthen the anterior parts of the head (Snodgrass 1935), it is absent in major workers. 2. Strong dimorphism, i.e., workers encountered are mostly either major or minor, medium workers are non existent or very scarce. 3. The sides of the heads of major workers taper strongly to the front (Fig. 2) while in minor workers, the sides are mostly parallel and taper to the rear. 4. The vertex in major workers is concave or flat, in minor workers it is convex. 5. The scape and tibiae have plentiful short setae, raised up, more so in Australian than in African species. 6. Biology: (a) mostly nocturnal, (b) nests are at honey bait, (e) quickly scatter when disturbed by torch light.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Camponotus species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -11.599243° to -27.5°.


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.

Biology

The phylogeography of a group of Pacific Island Camponotus species, which included a number of species groups, was broadly examined by Clouse et al. (2015). They found Camponotus crozieri is a member of a clade (Clade V) that originated in the Australian wet tropics and has become much more widespread and specieous.

Castes

Worker

minor


.

Nomenclature

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

crozieri. Camponotus crozieri McArthur & Leys, 2006: 107, fig. 12 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia).
- Status as species: McArthur, 2014: 80.

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

Description

Worker

HW 1.0-2.7; HL 1.6-2.9; PW 1.0-1.6; (n = 10). Mesosoma elongate with a distinct but well rounded propodeal angle; brown; tibiae and scapes with distinct setae raised up to 30°, a few scattered long setae overall including under head. Major worker. Head sides posterior half parallel, anterior half tapering to front; anterior margin of clypeus, strongly projecting with square corners, feebly concave between; node summit blunt.

Minor. Head sides tapering to the rear, occipital carinae distinct; anterior margin of clypeus, strongly projecting with square corners, wide, straight; ratio propodeal dorsum / declivity about 3.

Type Material

Holotype, minor worker, James Cook University, Townsville, 19.33775°S 146.7592°E, Queensland, Australia, 19°20′16″S 146°45′33″E / 19.33775°S 146.7592°E / -19.33775; 146.7592, South Australian Museum.
Paratype, 3 workers, James Cook University, Townsville, 19.33775°S 146.7592°E, Queensland, Australia, 19°20′16″S 146°45′33″E / 19.33775°S 146.7592°E / -19.33775; 146.7592, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 3 workers, James Cook University, Townsville, 19.33775°S 146.7592°E, Queensland, Australia, 19°20′16″S 146°45′33″E / 19.33775°S 146.7592°E / -19.33775; 146.7592, Queensland Museum.
Paratype, 3 workers, James Cook University, Townsville, 19.33775°S 146.7592°E, Queensland, Australia, 19°20′16″S 146°45′33″E / 19.33775°S 146.7592°E / -19.33775; 146.7592, South Australian Museum.

Etymology

This ant is named in recognition of Ross Crozier's contribution to Myrmecology.

References

Clouse, R. M., M. Janda, B. Blanchard, P. Sharma, B. D. Hoffmann, A. N. Andersen, J. E. Czekanski-Moir, P. Krushelnycky, C. Rabeling, E. O. Wilson, E. P. Economo, E. M. Sarnat, D. M. General, G. D. Alpert, and W. C. Wheeler. 2015. Molecular phylogeny of Indo-Pacific carpenter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Camponotus) reveals waves of dispersal and colonization from diverse source areas. Cladistics. 31:424-437. doi:10.1111/cla.12099
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).
McArthur, A. J. and R. Leys. 2006. A morphological and molecular study of some species in the Camponotus maculatus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Australia and Africa, with a description of a new Australian species. Myrmecologische Nachrichten. 8:99-110.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Andersen A. N., B. D. Hoffmann, and S. Oberprieler. 2016. Diversity and biogeography of a species-rich ant fauna of the Australian seasonal tropics. Insect Science DOI 10.1111/1744-7917.12402
Andersen A. N., M. Houadria, M. Berman, and M. van der Geest. Rainforest ants of the Tiwi Islands: a remarkable centr of endemism in Australia's monsoonal tropics. Insectes Sociaux 59: 433-441.
Fisher J., L. Beames, B. J. Rangers, N. N. Rangers, J. Majer, and B. Heterick. 2014. Using ants to monitor changes within and surrounding the endangered Monsoon Vine Thickets of the tropical Dampier Peninsula, north Western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 318: 7890.
Heterick B. E., B. Durrant, and N. R. Gunawardene. 2010. The ant fauna of the Pilbara Bioregion, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 78: 157-167.
McArthur A. J., and R. Leys. 2006. A morphological and molecular study of some species in the Camponotus maculatus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Australia and Africa, with a description of a new Australian species. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8: 99-110.