Camponotus fergusoni

Camponotus fergusoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. fergusoni
Binomial name
Camponotus fergusoni McArthur, 2003 Specimen labels

McArthur (2003) - Minor workers observed leaving and returning to nest during the day. The heads of major workers were sometimes observed blocking a nest entrance in heavy soil (G. Weber pers. comm. 2003).

Photo Gallery

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  Camponotus fergusoni worker at a sugar bait. Workers are incredibly skittish, rapidly dispersing at the slightest hint of danger. Brimbank Park, Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Jordan Dean.

Identification

McArthur (2003) - Similar to Camponotus chalceus. Minor workers distinguished by a covering of very fine dense white pubescence covering the reticulate integument whereas in C. chalceus pubescence is sparse, integument finely punctate; both mostly black, mesosoma usually with some red; propodeal dorsum concave.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Camponotus species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -34.61666667° to -36.61666667°.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• fergusoni. Camponotus fergusoni McArthur, 2003: 7, figs. 2, 3, 12 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
  • Type-material: holotype minor worker, 3 paratype minor workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Ferguson CP, 34°58’S, 138°39’E, 24.x.2002 (G. Weber); paratypes South Australia, Wolseley, 0.8 km. WSW, 15.xii.1995, S. Aust. Dept for Environment & Heritage, Box & Bulloak Survey (no collector’s name).
  • Type-depositories: SAMA (holotype); ANIC, SAMA (paratypes).
  • Status as species: McArthur, 2007a: 322; McArthur, 2010: 92; McArthur, 2014: 166.
  • Distribution: Australia.

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

Description

Worker

Major worker. Head sides straight, weakly tapering to the front, vertex straight; clypeus with a few fine long setae, without pubescence; weakly projecting forward, anterior margin evenly concave; metanotum a distinct furrow; node parallel front and back, summit blunt; propodeal spiracle elongated; mesosoma and node covered with white fine short adpressed pubescence.

Minor worker. Head sides straight, tapering to the front, vertex convex; clypeus anterior margin median section wide, nearly straight, projecting forward, dense pubescence nearly hiding the integument; pronotum, mesonotum and half propodeum form an even convexity; node with a long flatly convex summit.

Type Material

• Holotype, minor worker, Ferguson Conservation Park, 34°58'S 138°39'E, South Australia, Australia, 34°58′0″S 138°39′0″E, South Australian Museum.
• Paratype, 2 minor workers, Ferguson Conservation Park, 34°58'S 138°39'E, South Australia, Australia, 34°58′0″S 138°39′0″E, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 1 minor worker, Ferguson Conservation Park, 34°58'S 138°39'E, South Australia, Australia, 34°58′0″S 138°39′0″E, South Australian Museum.

Etymology

Named after Ferguson Conservation Park, South Australia.

References

• 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. 2003. New species of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 127(1):5-14. (page 7, figs. 2, 3, 12 minor worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• McArthur A.J. 2003. New species of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 127(1): 5-14.