Camponotus peleliuensis

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Camponotus peleliuensis.

Identification

As with Camponotus marianensis, this thick-headed, dark species has many similar forms in the region. However, its squat petiole is the first point of departure from most other species, including Camponotus japonicus. Other features of C. peleliuensis that distinguish it are its square head in front view, lack of pilosity, smoothly curving dorsal mesosomal profile, and coloration. (Clouse 2007)

Keys including this Species

Key to Micronesian Ants

Distribution

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

Images from AntWeb


Holotype of Camponotus peleliuensis. Worker. Specimen code casent0173099. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NNHMK, Kiev, Ukraine.

Nomenclature

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

peleliuensis. Camponotus peleliuensis Clouse, 2007a: 9, pl. 3B-D (w.) PALAU.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Palau: Peleliu I., 1945, 45-10658 (Dorsey); paratypes Palau: Peleliu I., 23.vii.1946, no. 1285 (H. 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 4.80, HL 1.67, HW 1.50, CI 90, SL 1.17, SI 78, PW 1.07, ML 0.63. Mandible outer margin strongly curving, apical tooth pointing back toward other mandibular insertion. Clypeus no lower than mandibular insertions, slightly concave across. Median clypeus dipping to point away from the vertex, medial carina on frons distinct but not past frontal lobes. Antennal insertions separated from clypeus by distance slightly more than distance from the insertions to medial carina. Head square in front view, tapering slightly toward mandibular insertions, flat across vertex. Midpoint of eyes located down from the vertex one third the distance from the vertex to the mandibular insertions, their outer margins separated from the sides of the head by a distance less than width of distal scape. Antennae 12-segmented, scape extending beyond vertex by 1/6 their length. Mesosoma broad and shallow in profile, sloping from anterior pronotum to the posterior propodeum, having a slight metanotal groove and promesonotal suture, and distinct but slight propodeal declivity. Petiole only as tall as long, anterior edge rising same distance as peduncle length, then sloping up for a distance slightly less than height of posterior face. Color: Overall dark reddish brown, grading to orange brown at distal coxae, proximal scapes, and anterior head; mandibles concolorous orange. Gaster with distinct, grey stripes made by clear strips on each posterior tergite; strips as wide as width of hind tibia. Pilosity: Head, mesosoma, and gaster with layer of fine, recumbent, silver hairs, interspersed with long, standing hairs. Head with long hairs on frons, central clypeus, and below eyes and around mandibular insertions. Standing hairs vary in height, but pair closest to vertex as long as the maximum width of eyes. Mesosoma with three to four long hairs each on the pronotum, mesonotum, and propodeum. Petiolar node with four long, backward-pointing hairs arranged in two pairs, one on each side of highest point; inner hairs slightly shorter than outside ones. Each gastral tergite with about ten long, silver hairs immediately anterior to grey strip on posterior edge. In addition, two adjacent pairs of long hairs lie in a line along middle of each tergite. Sculpturing: Head covered with distinct but fine punctures; body with delicate whorls.

PARATYPES: TL 4.30–4.70, HL 1.10–1.30, HW 1.13–1.20, CI 87–106, SL 1.20–1.33, SI 97–118, PW 0.87–0.93, ML 0.40–0.50. Although the holotype worker is the oldest and best curated specimen, it is a major worker and differs from the more common minors in certain key respects. Coloration of minors more overall matte back, which contrasts more sharply with orange proximal scapes and mandibles. Head entirely black, except for small area around mandibular insertions. Pilosity of head in minors lacking long, thick hairs between eyes and mandibular insertions. Head more tapered than holotype, and scapes longer.

Type Material

Type locality: Peleliu Island, the Republic of Palau. Type series: Holotype worker: Palau: Peleliu I. (“45-10658,” Dorsey, Summer 1945, NMNH). Paratype workers (5): Palau: Peleliu I. (“No. 1285,” Townes, 23-VII-46, NMNH)

Etymology

This species is named for its only known locality, Peleliu Island. It is dedicated to the U.S. Marine and Infantry soldiers who fought there in one of WWII’s most horrific battles. Indeed, the holotype was collected from the 13 km2 island less than a year after it was the scene of over 12,000 combat deaths.

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.