Camponotus longicollis

Camponotus longicollis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Subgenus:	Myrmopytia
Species:	C. longicollis
Binomial name
	Camponotus longicollis; Rasoamanana, Csősz & Fisher, 2017 Specimen Labels

Specimens have been collected via litter sifting and hand collecting on a rotten log.

Identification

Rasoamanana et al. (2007) - The following character combination distinguishes Camponotus longicollis from Camponotus karaha and Camponotus jodina: petiole relatively low and nodiform. NOH/CS 0.126 [0.091, 0.181]. Dorsal margin of clypeus weakly convex in lateral view.

Keys including this Species

Key to Camponotus Myrmopytia workers

Distribution

Camponotus longicollis has only been collected at two localities in the northwest Sambirano region of Madagascar, Réserve Spéciale de Manongarivo and Mont Kalabenono and Mont Galoko on the Galoko mountain chain.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -13.58487° to -13.97667°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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

Mimicry

Within Madagascar, there are four species of Camponotus, Camponotus imitator, Camponotus jodina, Camponotus karaha and Camponotus longicollis, that mimic the general form and behavior of the Aphaenogaster swammerdami group, specifically Aphaenogaster bressleri, Aphaenogaster gonacantha, Aphaenogaster makay, Aphaenogaster sahafina and Aphaenogaster swammerdami. These Camponotus mimics are often seen foraging with workers of Aphaenogaster, but potential benefits for Camponotus have not been studied (Csosz et al., 2021).

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Holotype of Camponotus longicollis. Worker. Specimen code casent0370614. Photographer Michele Esposito, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.


Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0763008. Photographer Nicole Rasoamanana, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.


Worker. Specimen code casent0191989. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Male

Images from AntWeb


Male (alate). Specimen code casent0191503. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

longicollis. Camponotus longicollis Rasoamanana, et al. 2017: 147, figs. 6A, 7A, 16-18 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Madagascar: Antsiranana, Galoko chain, Mont Kalabenono, -13.63999, 48.67374, 498 m., 15.xi.2013, BLF32079 (B.L. Fisher, et al.); paratypes with same data but BLF32133.
- Type-depository: CASC.
- Distribution: Madagascar.

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

Description

Worker

Minor Head longer than wide, posterior region of head extended into an elongate neck, sides of the head narrowed anteriorly, absolute cephalic size: 2.035 mm [1.74, 2.26] (n = 22). Erect, short, filiform setae present on head. Eyes located posterior to the midlength of head capsule in full-face view, postocular distance vs. cephalic length. PoOC/CL 0.428 [0.364, 0.475]. Frontal carina convex. FR/CS 0.216 [0.191, 0.229]. Scape distinctly surpassing posterior margin by almost half of its length. SL/CS 1.608 [1.434, 1.681]. Prominence on anteromedial clypeal margin projecting as a triangular spur, and dorsal outline of clypeus smoothly convex in profile; masticatory margin with 6 teeth, palps long with respect to head size.

Pronotum weakly undulant. Anterior region of mesonotum (immediately posterior of the promesonotal suture) in profile rising above pronotum. Mesonotum straight and elongate, distinctly compressed laterally anterior to mesothoracic spiracles. MPD/CS 1.473 [1.345, 1.580]. Suberect filiform setae present except on propodeum, which is covered with dense pubescence. Mesothoracic spiracles prominent; propodeal dorsum convex, mesonotum, and dorsum of propodeum meet at a right angle. ML/CS 2.202 [2.106, 2.280].

Petiole low and nodiform. Posterior face of petiole meets its dorsum at a rounded angle. PEW/CS 0.201 [0.170, 0.230].

Entire body dark brown to black; femora and tibiae dark brown, basitarsus of second and third legs light brown, funicular segments light brown becoming dark brown apically. Head and pronotum microreticulate, mesonotum smooth and shiny, propodeum and fore-coxae moderately reticulate-punctate.

Major Head suboval, posterolateral sides of head tapering to rear, absolute cephalic size: 2.427 mm [2.418, 2.444] (n=3). Erect, short, filiform setae present on head. Eyes located close to the cephalic midlength. PoOC/CL 0.399 [0.392, 0.409]. Frontal carina convex. FR/CS 0.247 [0.240, 0.256]. Scape surpassing posterior margin by more than one third of its length. SL/CS 1.318 [1.264, 1.345]. Anterior margin of clypeus projecting to an obtuse angle, dorsal outline of clypeus smoothly convex in profile; masticatory margin with 6 teeth, palps long with respect to head size.

Similar appearance as minor worker. Anterior region of mesonotum (immediately posterior to the pro-mesonotal suture) in profile rising above pronotum. Mesonotum straight and elongate, distinctly compressed laterally anterior to mesothoracic spiracles. Suberect filiform setae present, propodeum covered with dense pubescence, pubescence generally sparse elsewhere. Mesothoracic spiracles feebly produced laterally; propodeal dorsum convex, mesonotum and propodeum dorsum meet at a right angle. ML/CS 1.922 [1.853, 1.997]. Petiole low and nodiform. Posterior face of petiole meeting its dorsum at rounded to acute angle. PEW/CS 0.206 [0.190, 0.215].

Overall color black; basal funicular segments yellowish brown and becoming dark apically; basitarsus of second and third legs light brown. Color of filiform setae whitish. Head and pronotum finely reticulate, mesonotum smooth and shiny, clypeus, gena, propodeum and fore-coxae moderately reticulate punctate.

Type Material

Holotype worker: Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Galoko chain, Mont Kalabenono, -13.63999, 48.67374, 498 m, 15.xi.2013, rainforest, ex rotten log. (B.L. Fisher et al.). Collection code: BLF32079. Unique specimen identifier: CASENT0370614 (California Academy of Sciences). Paratype workers: Two workers with the same data as holotype but collection code: BLF32133, Unique specimen identifier: CASENT0370620; CASENT0370621 (CASC).

Etymology

This species name is based on the Latin terms for long, “longi”, and “collis”, neck.

References