Key to Australian Camponotus species

The following key to Australian Camponotus species (see Australian list) is based on McArthur (2007). Note that this key is currently incomplete. See missing taxa for a list of species yet to be added.

1

• Metapleural gland present above the hind coxae; dorsum of mesosoma with thick, bright yellow hairs => Camponotus thadeus

Camponotus thadeus

• Metapleural gland absent, dorsum of mesosoma with at most thin; pale elongate hairs => 2

2

• Fore femur twice as thick as mid- and hind femur; frontal carinae wide (macrocephalus group) => 23
• Otherwise => 3

3

• Anterior clypeal margin with a deep concavity bordered by two teeth (more so in major) (nigriceps group) => 33
• Anterior clypeal margin otherwise => 4

4

• About 6 coarse J-shaped setae on the underside of head (wiederkehri group) => 41
• Otherwise => 5

5

• Sides of head straight, near parallel, vertex straight, eyes at corners (ephippium group) => 54
• Head otherwise => 6

6

• Closely covered with coarse punctations (whitei group) => 61
• Without course punctations => 7

7

• Propodeum dorsum concave => 8
• Propodeum dorsum straight or convex => 11

8

• Small, HW < 1.2 in minor workers (sponsorum group) => 69
• Large, HW > 1.2 in minor workers => 9

9

• Node highest in front (johnclarki group) => Camponotus johnclarki
• Node otherwise => 10

10

• Plentiful short setae (L < EL) covering mesosoma (intrepidus group) => 62
• Long setae (L > EL) on mesosoma (chalceus group) => 65

11

• With distinct propodeal angle => 12
• Without distinct propodeal angle => 17

12

• Gaster with short overlapping setae (aeneopilosus group) => 70
• Gaster without short overlapping setae => 13

13

• Head sides tapering to rear, anterior clypeal margin not concave, PD/D < 3.5 (subnitidus group) => 71
• Otherwise => 14

14

• Length of mesonotum + propodeum more than twice height of propodeum => 15
• Length of mesonotum + propodeum less than twice height of propodeum => 19

15

• Major worker with anterior margin of clypeus broadly concave and sides of head tapering to the front (maculatus group) => 74
• Major worker with sides of head convex => 16

16

• Mesosoma black (darlingtoni group) => 80
• Mesosoma not all black (scotti group) => 84

17

• Curvature of pronotum similar to mesonotum and propodeum (esau group) => 88
• Curvature of pronotum dissimilar to mesonotum and propodeum => 18

18

• Mesosoma all yellow (gibbinotus group) => 90
• Mesosoma not all yellow (walkeri group, now part of the claripes group) => 91

19

• Mesosoma all red (armstrongi group) => 92
• Mesosoma not all red => 20

20

• Finely punctate (evae group) => 93
• Not punctate => 21

21

• Scapes and tibiae with short, erect hairs (rubiginosus group) => 95
• Scapes and tibiae without short, erect hairs => 22

22

• Dorsal face of propodeum shorter than posterior face (oetkeri group) => 98
• Dorsal face of propodeum longer than posterior face (claripes group) => 99

23

• Number of erect setae on mesonotum > 5 => 24
• Number of erect setae on mesonotum < 5 => 28

24

• Erect setae on mesosoma short (L < half EL) => Colobopsis annetteae
• Erect setae on mesosoma long (L > half EL) => 25

25

• Propodeum strongly convex and dome-like => 27
• Propodeum weakly convex to weakly concave => 26

26

• Propodeum flat or weakly convex => Camponotus janeti

Camponotus janeti

• Propodeum weakly concave => Camponotus mackayensis

Camponotus mackayensis

27

• Underside of head lacking erect setae => Colobopsis vitrea

Colobopsis vitrea

• Underside of head with erect setae => Camponotus janforrestae

28

• Propodeum separated from mesonotum => 29
• Propodeum and mesonotum forming a continuous surface => 30

29

• Propodeum cone-like => Colobopsis conithorax

Colobopsis conithorax

• Propodeum hemispherical => Colobopsis gasseri

Colobopsis gasseri

30

• Dorsal propodeal face > 1.5x posterior face => Colobopsis sanguinifrons

Colobopsis sanguinifrons

• Dorsal propodeal face < 1.5x posterior face => 31

31

• Eyes placed cloer to mandibles than vertex => Colobopsis anderseni
• Eyes placed closer to vertex than mandibles => 32

32

• Mostly yellow, limited to mainland Australia => Colobopsis macrocephala

• Mostly black, limited to Lord Howe Island => Colobopsis howensis

33

• Underside of head without erect setae => 34
• Underside of head with erect setae => 36

34

• Gaster uniform in colour => Camponotus loweryi

• Anterior gaster lighter in colour => 35

35

• Dorsal face of propodeum > 1.5x length of posterior face => Camponotus consobrinus

• Dorsal face of propodeum < 1.5x length of posterior face => Camponotus longideclivis

36

• Underside of head with > 20 erect hairs => 37
• Underside of head with < 20 erect hairs => 39

37

• Propodeal setae mostly confined to angle => Camponotus dryandrae

• Propodeal setae mostly evenly scattered => 38

38

• Yellow head => Camponotus clarior

• Black head => Camponotus nigriceps

39

• Head sides tapering to rear => Camponotus eastwoodi

• Head sided parallel => 40

40

• Head red-brown => Camponotus pallidiceps

• Head black => Camponotus prostans

41

• Posterior head tapering in lateral view => Camponotus perjurus

• Posterior head convex => 42

42

• Tibiae with erect setae => 43
• Tibiae without erect setae (ignoring spikes inside) => 45

43

• Metanotal groove deep => Camponotus setosus

• Metanotal groove shallow => 44

44

• Propodeal setae > 40, node summit rounded => Camponotus gouldianus

• Propodeal setae < 25, node summit angular => Camponotus terebrans

45

• Mesosoma strongly arched, corners of head produced => Camponotus postcornutus

• Mesosoma elongate, corners of head not produced => 46

46

• Metanotal groove below propodeum => 47
• Metanotal groove not depressed below propodeum => 50

47

• Pronotum darker than mesonotum and propodeum => Camponotus arenatus

• Pronotum and mesonotum colour uniform => 48

48

• Erect setae on mesonotum sparse or obsolete => 49
• Plentiful erect setae on mesonotum => Camponotus owensae

49

• Propodeum and anterior gaster similar in colour => Camponotus aurocinctus

• Propodeum darker than anterior gaster => Camponotus versicolor

50

• Posterior mesonotum flat => Camponotus wiederkehri

• Posterior mesonotum convex => 51

51

• Propodeum with about 4 setae clustered near angle => Camponotus donnellani

• Propodeum with setae scattered => 52

52

• Head darker than mesonotum => Camponotus rufonigrus

• Head similar colour to mesonotum => 53

53

• Scapes short (in minors, SI < 1.5) => Camponotus ceriseipes

• Scapes long (in minors, SI > 1.5) => Camponotus prosseri

54

• Propodeal dorsum straight or convex => Camponotus ephippium narses
• Propodeal dorsum concave => 55

55

• Scapes with erect setae => Camponotus tasmani

• Scapes without erect setae => 56

56

• Tibia with setae raised to 20 degrees (ignoring spikes inside) => Camponotus ephippium

• Tibia with setae raised to 5 degrees, or flay-lying (ignoring spikes inside) => 57

57

• Under head lacking erect setae => 58
• Under head with erect setae => 60

58

• All red => Camponotus afflatus

• Not all red => 59

59

• Concavity of mesosoma shallow, < ½ eye width => Camponotus fieldellus

• Concavity of mesosoma deep, > ½ eye width => Camponotus capito

60

• Short flat-lying setae on clypeus overlapping => Camponotus dromas

• Short flat-lying setae on clypeus not overlapping => Camponotus capito ebeninithorax

61

• Node summit convex => Camponotus whitei

• Node summit flat => Camponotus leae

62

• Gaster with dense short overlapping setae => 63
• Gaster without short overlapping setae => 64

63

• Propodeum convex, raised above metanotum => Camponotus piliventris (currently a junior synonym of C. suffusus)
• Propodeum flat, not raised above mesonotum => Camponotus suffusus

64

• Major worker head widest at eye level, minor worker vertex straight => Camponotus intrepidus

• Major worker head widest posterior to eye level, minor worker vertex convex => Camponotus intrepidus bellicosus

65

• Part of propodeum red, otherwise black => 66
• All mesosoma black or reddish => 68

66

• Propodeum with an abrupt angle => Camponotus chalceus

• Propodeum with a rounded angle => 67

67

• Setae on scapes raised to 45 degrees => Camponotus pawseyi
• Setae on scapes flat-lying => Camponotus fergusoni

68

• Vertex mostly straight => Camponotus hartogi

• Vertex convex => Camponotus innexus

69

• Angle of propodeum abrupt, about 90 degrees, vertex near straight => Camponotus froggatti

• Angle of propodeum rounded, > 90 degrees, vertex convex => Camponotus sponsorum

70

• Short setae on gaster dense, yellowish, head sides convex => Camponotus aeneopilosus

• Short setae on gaster sparse, whitish, head sides straight => Camponotus nigroaeneus

71

• Scape with erect hairs => Camponotus confusus
• Scapes without erect setae => 72

72

• Node longer than high => Camponotus subnitidus

• Node higher than long => 73

73

• Sparse erect setae under head => Camponotus rufus
• Plentiful erect setae under head => Camponotus tricoloratus

74

• Gaster with golden short flat-lying setae => Camponotus oxleyi

• Gaster without golden short flat-lying setae => 75

75

• Elongate, dorsal propodeal face > 3.5x posterior face => Camponotus extensus

• Shorter, dorsal propodeal face < 3.5x posterior face => 76

76

• Head sides tapering to rear => Camponotus novaehollandiae

• Head sides parallel => 78

78

• Front of head glossy => Camponotus humilior

• Front of head punctate => 79

79

• Propodeal dorsum straight => Camponotus fieldeae

• Propodeal dorsum weakly convex => Camponotus fieldeae

80

• Erect setae under head => 81
• No erect setae under head => 82

81

• Legs lighter colour than mesosoma, few setae => Camponotus elegans

• Legs imilaar colour to mesosoma, many setae => Camponotus inflatus

82

• Head sides parallel => Camponotus cinereus amperei
• Head sides tapering => 83

83

• Vertex near flat => Camponotus pitjantjatarae
• Vertex convex => Camponotus darlingtoni

84

• Yellow, head sides tapering rearward => Camponotus marcens

• Otherwise => 85

85

• Mesosoma with short curved setae => Camponotus scotti
• Mesosoma without short curved setae => 86

86

• Head sides parallel => Camponotus cinereus

• head sides tapering forward => 87

87

• Narrow frontal carinae => Camponotus longifacies

• Wide frontal carinae => Camponotus scratius

88

• Clypeus notched => Camponotus arcuatus

• Clypeus convex => Camponotus esau

90

• Brownish, few long setae under head => Camponotus discors

• Yellow, no long erect setae under head => Camponotus gibbinotus

91

• Major worker, in side view, without propodeal angle; minor worker, frontal carinae sinuous => Camponotus adami

• Major worker, in side view, with propodeal angle; minor worker, frontal carinae near parallel => Camponotus claripes

92

• Head and gaster black, otherwise red, glossy => Camponotus armstrongi

• All red, matte => Camponotus macareaveyi

93

• Under head without erect setae => Camponotus tristis

• Under head with erect setae => 94

94

• Scape without erect setae => Camponotus rudis

• Scape with erect setae => Camponotus evae

95

• Under head without erect setae => Camponotus simpsoni

• Under head with erect setae => 96

96

• Black and red => Camponotus rubiginosus

• Mostly black => 97

97

• Major worker head sides mostly straight, parallel => Camponotus lownei

• Major worker head sides convex, tapering => Camponotus evae zeuxis

98

• No erect setae under head or on mesosoma => Camponotus oetkeri

• A few erect setae under head and on mesosoma => Camponotus michaelseni

99

• Propodeum dorsum sharp in rear view => Camponotus eremicus
• Propodeum dorsum convex in rear view => 100

100

• With setae under head => Camponotus claripes

• Without setae under head => Camponotus insipidus"

Species not yet included in this key

• Camponotus aeneopilosus flavidopubescens Forel, 1902
• Camponotus andyyoungi McArthur, 2008
• Camponotus arcuatus aesopus Forel, 1907
• Camponotus bigenus Santschi, 1919
• Camponotus cameratus Viehmeyer, 1925
• Camponotus chalceoides Clark, 1938
• Camponotus chloroticus Emery
• Camponotus cinereus notterae Forel, 1907
• Camponotus claripes inverallensis Forel, 1910
• Camponotus claripes nudimalis Forel, 1913
• Camponotus claripes orbiculatopunctatus Viehmeyer, 1925
• Camponotus consectator (Smith, 1858)
• Camponotus crenatus Mayr, 1876
• Camponotus crozieri McArthur & Leys, 2006
• Camponotus cruentatus asper Menozzi, 1925
• Camponotus discors laetus Emery, 1925
• Camponotus discors yarrabahensis Forel, 1915
• Camponotus ezotus Bolton, 1995
• Camponotus fraseri McArthur, 2008
• Camponotus guidae McArthur, 2007
• Camponotus horni Clark, 1930
• Camponotus insipidus Forel, 1893
• Camponotus judithmorrisae McArthur, 2008
• Camponotus lividicoxis Viehmeyer, 1925
• Camponotus lividipes Emery, 1887
• Camponotus malleensis McArthur, 2007
• Camponotus molossus Forel, 1907
• Camponotus oetkeri voltai Forel, 1913
• Camponotus palkura McArthur, 2007
• Camponotus pellax Santschi, 1919
• Camponotus peseshus Bolton, 1995
• Camponotus philwardi McArthur, 2008
• Camponotus punctiventris Emery, 1920
• Camponotus scratius nuntius Forel, 1907
• Camponotus simulator Forel, 1915
• Camponotus spinitarsus Emery, 1920
• Camponotus stefani McArthur, 2007
• Camponotus subnitidus famelicus Emery, 1887
• Camponotus subnitidus longinodis Forel, 1915
• Camponotus suffusus bendigensis Forel, 1902
• Camponotus triodiae McArthur, 2009
• Camponotus tumidus Crawley, 1922
• Camponotus woodroffeensis McArthur, 2008