Camponotus microps

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Camponotus microps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Species: C. microps
Binomial name
Camponotus microps
Snelling, R.R., 2006

Camponotus microps casent0103422 profile 1.jpg

Camponotus microps casent0103422 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Samples collected by S.P. Cover were from a nest in fine sandy soil in a grassy area and surmounted by a sand crater about 15 cm in diameter. The colony sample collected by the author was under a large stone in a grassy area. (Snelling 2006)

Identification

Differs from other members of the C. festinatus complex by the small eyes and, in major workers, the head less strongly narrowed anteriorly and mandibles coarsely and closely punctate but with weakly sculptured interspaces. Minor workers share with those of Camponotus festinatus the absence of erect setae on the dorsal and mesial scape surfaces, but differ by the smaller eyes and the posteriorly more strongly narrowed head.

Distribution

known only from the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. It probably occurs also in other mountain ranges such as the Dragoon, Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona and the Peloncillo Mountains in southwestern New Mexico, as well as in adjacent ranges in northeastern Sonora, Mexico. (Snelling 2006)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 31.929812° to 20.91°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Habitat

The type locality is a woodland of mixed forest consisting of Chihuahua pine, Emory oak and juniper. Another collection from a nearby locality was in similar woodland.

Biology

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Camponotus microps casent0103423 head 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103423 profile 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103423 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103423 label 1.jpg
Holotype of Camponotus micropsWorker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0103423. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by LACM, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Camponotus microps casent0103425 head 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103425 profile 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103425 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103425 label 1.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0103425. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by LACM, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Camponotus microps casent0103426 head 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103426 profile 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103426 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103426 label 1.jpg
Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0103426. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by LACM, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Camponotus microps casent0103424 head 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103424 profile 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103424 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus microps casent0103424 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0103424. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by LACM, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

  • microps. Camponotus microps Snelling, R.R. 2006: 91, figs. 23-27 (s.w.q.) U.S.A. (Arizona).
    • Type-material: holotype major worker, 90 paratype major and minor workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype U.S.A.: Arizona, Cochise County, Cave Creek Canyon, Southwest Research Station, 5400 ft (1645 m.), Chiricahua Mts, 10.ix.1997, #4990 (S.P. Cover); paratypes: with same data, with same data but 7.2 km. WSW Portal, 1680 m., 8.viii.2001, #01-178 (R.R. Snelling).
    • Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); BMNH, LACM, MCZC, RAJC, UCDC, USNM (paratypes).
    • Distribution: Mexico, U.S.A.

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

Description

Worker

Major (n=12). Measurements: HL 2.75-3.25; HW 2.50-3.10; EL 0.55-0.65; SL 1.95-2.20; ML 3.65-4.15. Indices: CI 90-97; HFI 88-96; OI 18-23; SI 67-75.

Microreticulation of head sufficiently strong that piligerous punctures are obscured and anterior malar area with few or no elongate piligerous punctures. Antennal scape relatively short, its apex extending, at most, only slightly beyond posterolateral corners of head.

Mesosoma and legs pale yellowish brown and head reddish brown. Basal segments of gaster largely light brown, with yellow across the base; in some specimens the second and third segments are largely brown with yellow lateral spots.

Pilosity about as described for Camponotus festinatus; side of pronotum usually with 1 to several short standing setae near ventral margin. The following numbers of long standing (decumbent to fully erect) setae present on indicated structures: scape shaft (6-15), ventral margin of profemur (5-10), pronotal disc (20-30), mesonotum (6-20), propodeum (5-8), petiole (6-7), disc of gastral tergum 1 (6-8), premarginal band of gastral tergum 1 (7-13).

Media and minor (n= 2). Measurements: HL 1.60-1.90; HW 1.05-1.35; EL 0.45-0.50; SL 1.95-2.25; ML 2.45-3.00. Indices: CI 64-72; HFI 130-200; OI 25-28; SI 115-125.

Head and body yellow to yellowish brown with reddish mandibles and brown tarsi; tibiae yellow to brown, often bicolored.

Pilosity about as described for C. festinatus. The following numbers of long standing (decumbent to fully erect) setae present on indicated structures: scape shaft (0-1), ventral margin of profemur (2-5), pronotal disc (4-8), mesonotum (1-4), propodeum (2-4), petiole (4-6), disc of gastral tergum 1 (4-7), premarginal band of gastral tergum 1 (6-8).

Queen

(n=1). Measurements: HL 2.50; HW 2.05; EL 0.65; SL 2.20; ML 4.40. Indices: CI 82; HFI 129; OI 26; SI 88.

Similar to that of C. festinatus, but eyes smaller and scape short (CI 88 vs. 92 - 104); malar area finely microreticulate and with scattered fine obscure round punctures; longest setae c. 0.2 mm long. ICD 0.95 × HW; EL 0.62 × OMD; IOD and OOD each about 3.0 × OD. Pilosity o scape similar to that of minor / media workers.

Color similar to that of major workers.

Type Material

Holotype Specimen Labels

Holotype (major worker). United States of America, Arizona, Cochise Co., Cave Creek Canyon, Southwest Research Station, 5400 ft. (1645 m), Chiricahua Mts., 10.IX. 1997, leg. S.P. Cover, # 4990, nest in fine sandy soil in mixed pine-oak forest (Museum of Comparative Zoology). Paratypes. 90 workers of all sizes, same data as types; Cave Creek Canyon, 7.2 km WSW Portal, 1680 m, 8.VIII.2001, leg. R.R. Snelling, # 01- 178 (The Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, MCZ, RAJC, University of California, Davis, National Museum of Natural History).

Etymology

From Greek, small eyes.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics