Camponotus nigroaeneus xuthus

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
McArthur (2009) - The integument of the gaster in C. xuthus in not hidden by pubescence and the ant is brown whereas Camponotus nigroaeneus has distinct short whitish decumbent setae (pubescence) which hide the gaster and is mostly black.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  xuthus. Camponotus (Myrmophyma) nigroaeneus subsp. xuthus Emery, 1925b: 111 (s.w.) AUSTRALIA. [First available use of Camponotus (Myrmoturba) nigroaeneus r. divus var. xuthus Forel, 1915b: 97; unavailable name.] Raised to species: McArthur, 2009: 285.

Worker
Worker. Length 6.7 to 8.5 mm. Worker major (for the form divus only the minor worker is described). Larger than the type and much less pubescent, also less glossy, with somewhat coarser sculpture and less erect pilosity. Node much thinner especially above. The head has convex sides and is less narrowing in front, less trapezoidal. The antennae funiculus is red (black with the type) and brown legs. Worker minor. Different from r.divus by its much thinner node, which is definitely bluntly rounded, but without a flat surface above, while divus has a less convex and very long surface above, which is as long as the base of the node and the anterior height. Above all the hairs on the tibias are sharp, half upstanding, while those if divus are quite flat lying. The thorax is less convex and the metanotum (= propodeum) has a somewhat longer declivity. But the head is in fact somewhat broader and shorter then with divus and behind is as narrow as in front, while with the type it is trapezoidal, broader behind than in front. The head has in addition an almost straight posterior border, while with divus as well as the type it is convex. The pubescence is much weaker than divus and much weaker than the type, the body length somewhat greater than divus.

McArthur (2009) - Major. Head sides anterior two thirds straight and parallel, posterior third convex tapering anteriorly. Vertex mostly flat in front view and swollen in lateral view. Clypeus anterior margin median section strongly concave and bounded by two teeth. Propodeal dorsum straight, propodeal angle gently convex, about 135°. PD / D ~ 12.5. Petiolar node summit blunt in side view. Mesosoma in profile dorsum with about 30 fairly evenly spaced long erect setae. Underside of head and genae with plentiful erect long setae; scape and tibiae with plentiful short decumbent setae raised to < 20°. Colour: mostly reddish brown.

Minor. Finely punctate. Head sides straight and near parallel. Vertex mostly convex. Clypeus anterior margin projecting strongly and bounded by 90° corners. Propodeal dorsum feebly convex about 150°. PD / D ~ 3. Petiolar node summit blunt in side view. Mesosoma in profile dorsum with about 20 fairly evenly spaced long erect setae. Underside of head and genae with plentiful erect short setae; scape and tibiae with plentiful short setae raised to > 20°. Colour: mostly reddish brown.

Syntype major worker, HW 2.5, HL 2.7, PW 1.0, FCW 1.0, HT 0.8, TL 2.0; syntype minor worker, HW 1.5, HL 1.8, PW 1.90, FCW 0.70, HT 1.1, TL 1.8.

Type Material
Kimberley District. (N W Australia)

McArthur (2009) - 2 syntypes : 1 major and 1 minor worker “Typus Kimberley Dist”.