Camponotus cyrtomyrmodes

Identification
Shattuck (2005) - Minor. Dorsum of mesosoma with fewer than 6 scattered hairs and enlarged hairs absent; anterolateral corners of pronotum strongly ridged.

As noted by Donisthorpe (1941a), the worker of this unusual species superficially resembles species of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma), especially in the overall shape of the mesosoma. However this shape is also shared by other members of this species-group as well as the apparently unrelated Australian Camponotus postcornutus and is clearly convergent with Polyrhachis.

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

Nomenclature

 *  cyrtomyrmodes. Camponotus (Myrmophyma) cyrtomyrmodes Donisthorpe, 1941c: 139 (w.m.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Shattuck, 2005: 6.

Worker
Shattuck (2005) - Minor. (n=4): CI 93–98, HL 1.40–1.53 mm, HW 1.37–1.45 mm, ML 2.30–2.42 mm, MTL 1.64–1.76 mm, SI 152–158, SL 2.11–2.20 mm.

Minor. Posterolateral margin of head strongly concave with a strong ridge running between the eye and the posterolateral corner, the head widest at this ridge, slightly narrower just above the mandibular insertions and narrowest just below the eyes, the area between the ridges (the upper part of the head behind the eyes) forming an essentially flat surface, this surface extending onto the laterally expanded pronotum and flattened anterior mesonotum to form a single, broad “shield.” Antennal scape long. Petiolar node low, block-like, the dorsal surface broadly convex. Pronotum, mesonotum, propodeum and petiole each with 2–4 erect hairs, hairs more abundant on head and gaster, enlarged hairs absent; pubescence present but thin and scattered. Colour red-black with legs yellow-red.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * Donisthorpe H. 1941. Descriptions of new species of ants from New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (11)7: 129-144.
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Shattuck S. O. 2005. Review of the Camponotus aureopilus species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), including a second Camponotus with a metapleural gland. Zootaxa 930: 1-20.