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Camponotus ellioti species group
Based on Rasoamanana and Fisher 2022.
Species
Identification
Key to Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Mayria minor workers
Diagnosis
The Camponotus ellioti species group is characterized by the following morphological features: mesosoma reddish, gaster dark brown to black; anterior clypeal margin projecting into broadly convex lobe; frontal carina short and diverging posteriorly, median carina absent; clypeus with short, rounded lobe; mandible subtriangular, apical tooth long; eyes large, elliptical, and break the lateral margin of head; in minor, head and occipital margin rounded, lateral head sides parallel before eyes.
Majors and Minors - Anterior margin of clypeus of minor worker rounded and triangular, with anterolateral corner right-angled for C. maintikibo. Pronotum sometimes narrowly rounded or shouldered (C. ellioti, C. maintikibo). In profile, dorsal outline of mesosoma evenly convex (C. ellioti, C. maintikibo) or slightly concave at the level of metanotal suture (C. andrianjaka) or with impressed metanotal suture (C. maintilany). Humeral angles of pronotum well-marked. Petiole squamiform to nodiform. Integument finely imbricate to coarsely reticulate-foveolate. Pubescence long and distinct, few pairs of standing hairs on vertex.
Minor worker - In full-face view, head subtriangular, posterior margin evenly convex, head sides anterior to eyes subparallel and diverging posteriorly.
Major worker - In full-face view, head longer than broad, subtriangular to rectangular; with weakly convex sides.
Notes
Camponotus ellioti had been considered a member of subgenus Myrmopiromis mainly because of the dense pilosity on its gastral dorsum and the humeral angle, but after morphological investigation, we find that the color of the integument can be a good indicator for separating Malagasy Camponotus species.