Camponotus simpsoni

Camponotus simpsoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Camponotus
Species:	C. simpsoni
Binomial name
Camponotus simpsoni McArthur, 2003

Nest in ground.

Identification

McArthur (2003) - Similar to Camponotus lownei. Distinguished by the absence of long erect setae on the underside of the head; reduced numbers of long erect setae on all other parts. In both, propodeum declining surface longer than the dorsal surface; integument mostly finely reticulate; black, legs lighter.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Camponotus majors of the southwestern Botanical Province
• Key to Australian Camponotus minors of the southwestern Botanical Province
• Key to Australian Camponotus species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15.14999962° to -32.93333333°.

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.

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code antweb1008622. Photographer Lucinda Gibson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MVMA, Melbourne, Australia.

Nomenclature

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

• simpsoni. Camponotus simpsoni McArthur, 2003: 12, figs. 11, 18 (s.w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia).
  • Status as species: McArthur, 2007a: 339; Heterick, 2009: 70; McArthur, 2010: 68; McArthur, 2014: 134.

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

Description

Worker

Major worker. Head sides mostly straight and parallel; clypeus anterior margin projects forward, median section deeply concave, bounded by two teeth.

Minor worker. Head sides straight, tapering to the front, vertex convex, eyes close to corners; clypeus wide, frontal margin uniformly convex, projecting forward; node high, short longitudinally, summit blunt; mesosoma dorsal surface forming an even convexity.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, Cape Wellington, 15°09'S 124°50'E, Western Australia, Australia, 15°09′0″S 124°50′0″E, South Australian Museum.
• Paratype, 3 workers, Cape Wellington, 15°09'S 124°50'E, Western Australia, Australia, 15°09′0″S 124°50′0″E, Riot SAM Expedition, ANIC32-023589, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, worker(s), Cape Wellington, 15°09'S 124°50'E, Western Australia, Australia, 15°09′0″S 124°50′0″E, South Australian Museum.

Etymology

Named after Antony Simpson a benefactor of the South Australian Museum.

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).
• Majer, J.D., Castalanelli, M.A., Ledger, J.L., Gunawardene, N.R., Heterick, B.E. 2018. Sequencing the ant fauna of a small island: Can metagenomic analysis enable faster identification for routine ant surveys? Sociobiology 65, 422-432 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v65i3.2885).
• McArthur, A.J. 2003. New species of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 127(1):5-14. (page 12, figs. 11, 18 major, minor worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206. 
• Heterick B. E., B. Durrant, and N. R. Gunawardene. 2010. The ant fauna of the Pilbara Bioregion, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 78: 157-167.
• McArthur A.J. 2003. New species of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 127(1): 5-14.