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Camponotus darwinii species group
Based on Rasoamanana and Fisher 2022.
Species
- Camponotus darwinii
- Camponotus norvigi
- Camponotus nossibeensis
- Camponotus radovae
- Camponotus themistocles
- Camponotus ursus
Identification
Key to Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria minor workers
Diagnosis
The Camponotus darwinii species group is a distinctive group because of the presence of coarser and denser pubescence on its dorsal margin; integument dull and sculptured; dorsal outline of mesosoma continuous. This group is distinguishable from all other members of the subgenus Mayria by the presence of dense, whitish pilosity on its dorsum and the arcuate profile of its mesosoma.
Major and Minor workers - Clypeus with short, truncated, or rounded rectangular median lobe, its dorsum covered with randomly spaced setae. Mesosomal profile continuous, promesonotal and metanotal suture not impressed, sometimes forming a shiny line. Petiole scale usually not thick, but thin or sharp along margins. Integument opaque, matte black or brown, distinctly reticulate-punctate throughout. Body mostly covered with coarse yellow, red, or white setae, sometimes forming a dense fur coating the gaster or mesosoma.
Minor worker - In full-face view, head more or less rectangular, with convex lateral sides and evenly straight occipital margin. Setae on dorsum of head sparsely distributed on occipital portion, arranged in longitudinal row along frontal carina.
Major worker - In full-face view, head somewhat longer than broad, a little narrower in front than broad.
Notes
Species in this group were traditionally classified under the subgenus Myrmopiromis (type species Camponotus fulvopilosus, type location South Africa). The subgeneric definition by Emery (1925) and the revised definition of Camponotus fulvopilosus species group (Robertson 1990, 1997) are quite different from the C. darwinii species group. In addition to the species distribution, the number of mandibular teeth is a good character for distinguishing these two species groups: six for C. darwinii group and seven or eight for C. fulvopilosus group.