Camponotus owensae

Camponotus owensae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. owensae
Binomial name
Camponotus owensae Shattuck & McArthur, 2002

This rare species has been collected only once from south-western South Australia. Specimens were collected in pitfall traps in mallee. Nothing else is known of its biology.

Identification

Tibiae with abundant suberect hairs. In minors, metanotal groove depressed below the level of the anterior region of the propodeum; dorsal surface of petiolar node relatively long and flat, its anterior face much shorter than the posterior face. Elongate (overlapping) and dense pubescence present on head, mesosoma, gaster and tibiae. Body colour black. The configuration of the metanotal groove and the abundant pilosity will separate this species from others in this species group.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Camponotus species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -31.73333333° to -31.73361111°.

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.

• owensae. Camponotus owensae Shattuck & McArthur, 2002: 76, figs. 25-27 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
  • Status as species: McArthur, 2007a: 312; McArthur, 2010: 50; McArthur, 2014: 110.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, 32km NNE Inila Rock Waters, Yumbarra Conservation Park, South Australia, Australia, 31°44′01″S 133°26′59″E, 20-24 March 1995, Owen,H., ANIC32-000403, South Australian Museum.
• Paratype, 2 workers, 32km NNE Inila Rock Waters, Yumbarra Conservation Park, South Australia, Australia, 31°44′01″S 133°26′59″E, 20-24 March 1995, Owen,H., ANIC32-000402, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 1 worker, 32km NNE Inila Rock Waters, Yumbarra Conservation Park, South Australia, Australia, 31°44′01″S 133°26′59″E, 20-24 March 1995, Owen,H., South Australian Museum.

Description

Minor worker

Anterior clypeal margin projecting, median portion nearly straight and feebly crenulate with rounded angles laterally. Pronotum, mesonotum, metanotum and the anterior one-fifth of propodeum a strong, even domed convexity distorted only by the two feeble, well separated sutures of the metanotum, the posterior four-fifths of propodeum rise from a wide concavity to a posterior hump which includes the rounded angle and the mostly straight posterior propodeal face. Anterior face of petiolar node straight, shorter than posterior face, summit narrowing upwards to a rounded angle. Entire body black and covered with plentiful erect and flat lying white setae except antennae where setae are flat lying to suberect.

Measurements

Minor worker (n=2). CI 0.80 — 0.83; HL 2.04mm — 2.35mm; HW I .63mm — 1.95mm; ML 3.33mm — 3.89mm; MTL 2.98mm — 3.08mm; PnW I .42mm — 1.60mm; SI 1.50 — 1.71; SL 2.79mm — 2.92mm.

Etymology

Named after Helen Owens of the South Australian Department of Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, who found this species during a faunal survey.

References

• Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
• 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).
• Shattuck, S.O. and McArthur, A.J. 2002. A taxonomic revision of the Camponotus wiederkehri and perjurus species-groups (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 126:63-90.