Camponotus mainty

Camponotus mainty is an endemic species of Madagascar, generally distributed in the mountainous regions of the northeast and southeast, as well as the central high plateau of the island. This species is known to nest frequently in rotten logs and rotting tree stumps and rarely in root mats in the ground layer. Foraging occurs on the ground and on lower vegetation.

Identification
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2018) - Median portion of clypeus without longitudinal carina; mandible with six teeth; anteromedian margin of clypeus not bordered by a lamella; in lateral view, mesosoma long and low, its dorsal outline not a domelike structure; propodeal declivity inclined anteriorly and not perpendicular to ventral face of propodeum; petiolar node more or less flattened anteroposteriorly; body entirely or mostly black to reddish-black; appendages reddish-black or dark brown.

Camponotus mainty can be confused with Camponotus maculiventris and with Camponotus foersteri, but in both latter species the trochanter and the distal portion of the coxa is yellowish to white in color and also the petiolar node is not flattened anteroposteriorly, but its dorsal margin is distinctly broadly convex. Camponotus christi can be separable from C. mainty by the yellow to light brown color of its body.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  mainty. Camponotus mainty Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2018: 41, figs. 12B, 13B, 28, 36 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Minor. In full-view, head elongate, lateral margin straight and diverging posteriorly, rounding to the slightly convex posterior margin. Anterior clypeal margin straight, rounding to lateral margin; median longitudinal carina absent. Eyes either breaking the lateral outlines of head or not, their posterior margins located well behind the mid-length of the head (PoOc/CL: 0.30±0.03; 0.23–0.36). Mandible triangular, masticatory margin with six teeth. Antennal scape long, roughly its distal half surpassing posterior cephalic border. In lateral view, pronotum slightly convex, mesonotum and propodeal dorsum straight and elongate, joining declivity surface at broad angle. Propodeal dorsum roughly three times as long as height of declivity; propodeal spiracle round. Petiolar node higher than long, junction of dorsal margin to anterior face rounded and angulate to posterior face.

Dorsum of head covered with numerous whitish, elongate erect hairs; pronotum, mesonotum and junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity with a pair of erect hairs; pubescence short and sparse on dorsum of body; petiolar node with at least two pairs of erect hairs on its posterodorsal margin. Body and appendages entirely black, or head, mesosoma, and gaster black and legs with funicular segments reddish-brown.

Major. Differing from minor worker in the following characters: enlarged head with markedly concave posterior margin; apical fourth of antennal scape surpassing posterior cephalic margin; robust mesosoma, with pronotum and mesonotum convex, metanotum distinct, propodeal dorsum straight and forming broad angle with declivity and twice as long as height of declivity; petiolar node tapering dorsally.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Madagascar: Province Toamasina, Montagne d'Anjanaharibe, 19.5 km 27° NNE Ambinanitelo, -15.17833, 49.635, 1100 m, ex rotten log, montane rainforest, 12–16 Mar 2003 (Fisher, Griswold et al.) collection code: BLF08192, specimen code: CASENT0497845.

Paratypes. 6 minor and 8 major workers with same data as holotype but with specimen codes: minors: CASENT0497841, CASENT0497844, CASENT0804669, CASENT0804670, CASENT0804671, CASENT0804672; majors: CASENT0497842, CASENT0497843, CASENT0804673, CASENT0804674, CASENT0804675, CASENT0804676, CASENT0804677, CASENT0804678 (CASC,, , ).