Camponotus melanus

Dumpert et al. (2006) - In Borneo a C. melanus queen without brood was the sole ant in one of five Monomorium sp. pavilions (12.3 cm length and 1.1 cm width), with the other four pavilions still being occupied by their original owners. The C. melanus containing pavilion was built out of leaf hairs in the typical nest building mode of Monomorium and contained no silk. The coccids located in both the single nest occupied by the C. melanus queen and inside the four detected Monomorium pavilions, belong to the same species (Coccus hesperidium Linnaeus, 1758). Average measurements of the four Monomorium pavilions were 12.3 cm × 1.1 cm × 0.3 cm. It is noticeable that the single nest taken over by C. melanus was enlarged in width and height (4 cm × 1.5 cm) apparently to be more suitable for the much larger Karavaievia inhabitants. Microscopic structure of the nest walls indicated that this enlargement was done by the tiny Monomorium workers (Weissflog 2001). These findings seem to represent the earliest stage of colony foundation of a Karavaievia colony. In contrast, in Camponotus micragyne, which is known from West Malaysia and Sumatra, we came upon a progressive stage of colony establishment.

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

Nomenclature

 *  melanus. Camponotus (Karavaievia) melanus Dumpert, in Dumpert, Maschwitz, et al. 1995: 92, figs. 1, 2, 5 (w.q.m.) WEST MALAYSIA.