Camponotus flavicomans

Camponotus flavicomans
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. flavicomans
Binomial name
	Camponotus flavicomans; Clouse, 2007 Specimen labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Camponotus flavicomans. Known only from the type workers, a small number of individuals from a few different collection events.

Identification

The only species I have found with similar proportions, especially in the steep propodeal declivity, lack the thick layer of recumbent hairs. I have seen Camponotus with numerous golden hairs among unidentified species from Indonesia, but they are too gracile to be this species. (Clouse 2007)

Keys including this Species

Key to Micronesian Ants

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 7.56° to 7°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Palau (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

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Holotype of Camponotus flavicomans. Worker. Specimen code casent0173094. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

flavicomans. Camponotus flavicomans Clouse, 2007a: 6, pl. 2A-C (w.) PALAU.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Palau: Babelthuap I., “Ngiwal-Ngarard”, 6.ii.1938 (E. Saki); paratypes: Palau: Babelthuap I., 22.vii.1946 (Oakley), Babelthuap I., Gakip, 19.vii.1946, no. 1256 (Townes), Palau: Koror I., 22.vii.1946, no. 1260 (Townes).
- Type-depository: USNM.
- [Also described as new by Clouse, 2007b: 201, 214.]
- Distribution: Palau.

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

Description

Worker

HOLOTYPE: TL 4.20, HL 1.33, HW 1.25, CI 94, SL 1.43, SI 114, PW 1.03, ML 0.53. Mandible outer margin strongly curving such that apical tooth points parallel to anterior clypeal margin. Five teeth on the masticatory margin, declining gradually from the apex. Clypeus anterior margin curving out gently. Median clypeus curved slightly away from the vertex, antennal insertions separated by distance greater than distance from nearest clypeal margin to the clypeal midpoint. Head in front view somewhat rounded to square, tapered anteriorly, eyes being the widest part and vertex rounded. In frontal view, bottom margin of eyes located above halfway point of the head and above antennal insertions; their inner margins more than halfway from the frontal lobes and sides of the head, and their outlines breaking the outline of the sides of the head. Antennae 12-segmented, last segment only slightly longer than penultimate. Scape extending beyond vertex by distance nearly equal to half its length. Mesosoma in profile sloping gently from anterior pronotum to dorsal propodeum, then dropping severely, making a concave posterior surface. Petiole taller than long, anterior and posterior faces mostly parallel although bulging slightly dorsally. Color: Head mostly black, mandibles orange, scapes orange from insertions to halfway, and funiculus brownish black. Mesosoma mostly black although appearing slightly brownish anteriorly. Gaster black with grey stripes, formed by a whitish clear strip along posterior fourth of each tergite. Legs same color as mesosoma but becoming reddish at the tips of the tarsi. Pilosity: Mostly a covering of long, recumbent, silver hairs which become golden and more numerous on dorsal gaster, and, to a lesser extent, dorsal mesosoma and front and vertex of the head. Hairs orderly, with the appearance of having been combed. Head with a basic layer of thick and orderly silver recumbent hairs, mixed with short (often not as long as the distance between them), standing, bristle-like hairs between eyes and on clypeus. Mesosoma dominated by silver sheen as with head, then with moderately sized, standing hairs scattered dorsally from pronotum to propodeum. Gaster dominated by shiny, thick sheen of recumbent hairs, mostly gold in color. Laterally and ventrally hairs silver and less numerous. Along posterior of each tergite about ten short-to-moderately sized, evenly spaced bristles. Petiole with silver sheen on anterior dorsum and dorsum, mixed with long bristles dorsally, less pilose and nearly bare on the posterior. Sculpturing: Head and pronotum with fine pits becoming whorls on remainder of the body and legs.

PARATYPES: TL 3.90–4.50, HL 1.20–1.38, HW 1.18–1.35, CI 92–104, SL 1.45-1.60, SI 117–125, PW 1.03–1.13, ML 0.40–0.53.

Type Material

Type locality: Babelthuap Island and nearby sections of Koror Island, Republic of Palau, Western Pacific.

Type series: Holotype worker: Palau: Babelthuap I., “Ngiwal-Ngarard” (Esaki, 6-II-1938). Paratype workers (5): Palau: Babelthuap I., (Oakley, 22-VII-46, National Museum of Natural History); Babelthuap I., Gakip (“1256,” Townes, 19-VII-46, NMNH); NE corner of Koror (“1260,” Townes, 22-VII-46, NMNH).

Etymology

Flavicomans is Latin for “golden haired,” the most visible and distinct feature of this species.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Clouse R. M. 2007. New ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Micronesia. Zootaxa 1475: 1-19.
Clouse R. M. 2007. The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Micronesica 39: 171-295
Clouse, R.M. 2007. The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Micronesica 39(2): 171-295.
Clouse, Ronald M. 2007. New Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Micronesia. Zootaxa. 1475:1-19.
Field Museum Collection, Chicago, Illinois (C. Moreau)