Camponotus loweryi

Camponotus loweryi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. loweryi
Binomial name
Camponotus loweryi McArthur, 1996 Specimen Labels

B. B. Lowery described the appearance of the nest above ground at Hillston, New South Wales, in 1978 in a collection that he donated to ANIC. A mound about 20-30 cm in diameter and 2-4 cm in height is generally constructed away from the tree canopy. The entrance near the centre of the mound is usually circular and decorated with small stones. (McArthur and Adams 1996)

Identification

A member of the Camponotus nigriceps species group. McArthur and Adams (1996) - Resembles Camponotus eastwoodi and some light-coloured specimens of Camponotus consobrinus, and Camponotus nigriceps in colour and pilosity. C. loweryi can be distinguished thus: (1) gula setae absent in C. loweryi and C. consobrinus, dense in C. nigriceps, sparse in C. eastwoodi; and (2) gaster of C. consobrinus is distinctly bicoloured, gasters of C. eastwoodi and C. loweryi are for the most part uniform yellowish brown colour or vary only slightly in colour from posterior to anterior. Sympatric with C. consobrinus, C. nigriceps and Camponotus clarior.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Camponotus species

Distribution

The species is widespread in south-eastern and eastern Australia, particularly in semi-arid habitats.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -16.916° to -34.9075°.

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.

• loweryi. Camponotus loweryi McArthur, in McArthur & Adams, 1996: 33, fig. 25 (s.w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
  • Type-material: holotype major worker, paratype major and minor workers (numbers not stated).
  • Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Danggali Conservation Park, Tipperery Dam, v.1993 (A.J. McArthur); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depositories: SAMA (holotype); ANIC, SAMA (paratypes).
  • Status as species: McArthur, 2007a: 306; McArthur, 2010: 36; McArthur, 2014: 68.
  • 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

Colour: head black or brown with lighter pitches, mesosoma, node and most of gaster honey colour or yellowish posterior gaster sometimes slightly darker, coxa and femur lighter often whitish, tibia and tarsus red brown. Pilosity: up to 0·5 mm long, plentiful on pronotum, less on mesonotum and 5-10 on propodeum (Fig. 25a, b), absent on gula, plentiful on gaster pointing backwards, short setae on scapes raised to 10°, short setae on midtibiae raised to 10°. Pubescence: adprcsscd setae about 0·1 mm long fine, spaced < length, scarcely visible on the dorsum of mesosoma, sparse on head. Integument finely reticulate, glossy. Node summit viewed from rear: convex or Oat in major workers, convex in other workers. Metanotum usually distinct in major workers.

HW = 1.60-4.05 mm; HL= 2.20-4.25 mm; TL = 2.70-4.00 mm; n = 40. HW:HL sometimes reaches 1.0 in major workers where HW > 4.0 mm. TL = 2.26 + 2.73 Jog HW (n = 20, r = 0.96, s.e.(y) = 0.12, s.e.(x) = 0.08). PD: D = 1.0 in major workers increasing to 3.0 in minor workers.

Type Material

Holotype. One major worker (pinned) South Australian Museum plus paratypes in alcohol, SAMA, Australian National Insect Collection. Collected by A. J. McArthur, May 1993, at Tipperary Dam m Danggali Conservation Park, South Australia.

• Holotype, major worker, Tipperary Dam, Danggali Conservation Park, South Australia, Australia, South Australian Museum.

Etymology

This species is named after the Reverend B. B. Lowery SJ.

References

• McArthur, A. J. and M. Adams. 1996. A morphological and molecular revision of the Camponotus nigriceps group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy. 10:1-46. (page 33, fig. 25 soldier, worker described)
• Wang, W.Y., Soh, E.J.Y., Yong, G.W.J., Wong, M.K.L., Benoit Guénard, Economo, E.P., Yamane, S. 2022. Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy. Asian Myrmecology 15: e015006 (doi:10.20362/am.015006).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• McArthur A. J., and M. Adams. 1996. A morphological and molecular revision of the Camponotus nigriceps group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Invertebr. Taxon. 10: 1-46.