Colobopsis kapilashi

Colobopsis kapilashi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Colobopsis
Species:	C. kapilashi
Binomial name
	Colobopsis kapilashi; Dhadwal & Bharti, 2024

Workers have been collected from ground covered with thick layers of leaf litter and rotten branches. The area was surrounded by Sal and Sagwan trees.

Photo Gallery

Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 1. Colobopsis kapilashi, head in full face view (major worker).
Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 2. Colobopsis kapilashi, body in lateral view (major worker).
Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 3. Colobopsis kapilashi, body in dorsal view (major worker).
Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 4. Colobopsis kapilashi, head in full face view (minor worker).
Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 5. Colobopsis kapilashi, body in lateral view (minor worker).
Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 6. Colobopsis kapilashi, body in dorsal view (minor worker).

Identification

(Figure 7A, B, C, D).

This species closely resembles Colobopsis rothneyi but can be differentiated by the following combination of characters (in C. kapilashi):

head massive and truncated portion formed a large circular margined rim anteriorly
clypeus narrow, triangular in shape and extending up to the circular margin
eyes large situated laterally beyond the midlength of the head
scape extending posterior margin of head by 1/3rd of its length
petiole node tapering toward tip, anteriorly convex and flat posteriorly
tibiae of legs cylindrical
head, mesosoma, and gaster reddish yellow and in some individuals head somewhat dark.

While in C. rothneyi head comparatively narrow and truncated portion concave anteriorly, clypeus extending beyond the posterior truncation margin and less than twice as wide as long and divided in two by a median furrow; eyes small, situated beyond the midlength of the head; scape barely touches the posterior head margin; petiole node transverse; tibiae of legs compressed; head and mesosoma testaceous brown and gaster black.

Dhadwal & Bharti (2024), Figure 7. A. head in full face view, C. kapilashi. B. Body in lateral view, C. kapilashi. C. Head in full face view, C. rothneyi (CASENT0910587). D. Body in lateral view, C. rothneyi (CASENT0910587). Images from AntWeb (www.antweb.org); photographer, Will Ericson (C, D).

Keys including this Species

Key to Colobopsis of India

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 20.7° to 20.7°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: Dhadwal & Bharti, 2024

Distribution based on type material

India (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

Nomenclature

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

kapilashi. Colobopsis kapilashi Dhadwal & Bharti, 2024: 2, figs. 1-6 (s.w.) INDIA.

Type Material

Holotype worker (PUAC -T 201), from India, Odisha, Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary, 20.6804N, 85.7628E, 110m, handpicking, 06.ix.2021, Tarun Dhadwal leg.
Paratypes: 20 (w) (PUAC - T 205-215), same data as holotype.

Description

References

Dhadwal, T., Bharti, H. 2024. Colobopsis kapilashi sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) a new ant species from India with a key to the Indian species. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity (doi:10.1016/j.japb.2024.10.012).