Camponotus asli

A Weaver Ant that uses silk in its nest construction.

Identification
A member of the subgenus Karavaievia. This group of Camponotus species is known for their monomorphic workers and their nest weaving behavior.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Malaysia.

Biology
General details about the biology of species in this subgenus can be found on the Karavaievia webpage.

Nomenclature

 *  asli. Camponotus (Karavaievia) asli Dumpert, in Dumpert, Maschwitz, et al. 1989: 218, figs. 1-4 (w.q.) WEST MALAYSIA. Dumpert, in Dumpert, Maschwitz, et al. 1995: 101 (m.).

Male
Dumpert (1995) - Allotype: TL 4.1, HL 0.85, HW 0.78, CI 91, SL 0.95, SI 82, PW 1.03, OD 0.43. Paratype: TL 3.9, HL 0.75, HW 0.8, CI 107, SL 0.8, SI 100, PW 1.05, OD 0.4.

Head trapezoidal and nearly as wide as long (CI 91). Eyes are prominent and extending to the upper head sides. Occipital margin strongly rounded with protruding ocelli. Clypeus high with a slightly excised anterior margin. The sinuate frontal carinae are not reaching back to the upper end of the eyes. Eyes very large; maximum diameter 0.43 mm, or about 0.55 HW. Scapes long, projecting beyond occipital margin of the head by about half their length. Pedicel expanded at its distal end and thicker than following flagellar segments.

Head, alitrunk and gaster uniformly yellowish light brown, sentellum and metanotum dark brown. Front parts of head, antennal flagellum and tarsi lighter than the rest of body. All body parts shining. Cuticle covered with densely located small punctures, seen under the dissecting microscope. Decumbent pubescence on head, alitrunk and gaster; longer erect and suberect hairs scarcely on whole body. Petiolar scale triangular in profile, with a broad base tapering equally from front and behind to a ridge. Ridge with strong median excision.

Type Material
Dumpert (1995) - Allotype male, Peninsular Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan, Pasoh Forest Reserve, March/31/1992, K. Rosciszewski leg. (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel). Paratype: 1 male with the same data as allotype (used for the scanning electron micrograph).