Camponotus philwardi

The type material was collected from a rotten log.

Identification
McArthur (2008) - A member of the C. ephippium group (McArthur 2007a), with the form of the mesosoma of minor workers in lateral view appearing between Camponotus ephippium and Camponotus capito. Its vertex is convex, its propodeal dorsum nearly straight whereas in C. ephippium it is flat and concave respectively. Its anterior clypeal margin has a distinctive concavity.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus philwardi McArthur, 2008: 123, figs. (w.) AUSTRALIA (New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Victoria).
 * Status as species: McArthur, 2010: 106; McArthur, 2014: 156.

Worker
Measurements: HL = 0.83HW + 0.36 (R2 = 0.99, n=10); PW = 0.39HW + 0.64 (R2 = 0.95, n=10); CW = 0.30HW + 0.11 (R2 = 0.98, n=10).

Major. Mesosoma: pronotum nearly flat with lateral margins in front, mesonotum abruptly rising anteriorly, otherwise feebly convex; metanotum with distinct transverse edges; propodeum dorsum straight; angle rounded, about 135°; declivity mostly straight; pronotum and mesonotum with a few scattered long erect setae, propodeum with a few near angle; flat-lying short setae sparse; side of mesonotum and propodeum finely and densely reticulate. Node: anterior lower half straight upper half convex, posterior mostly straight, summit convex. Appendages: tibiae with flat-lying short setae spaced about equal to their length; scapes with flat-lying short setae spaces about = length with some a little longer raised to 45° Head: underside in lateral view with a few long erect setae; in front view finely punctate with plentiful short erect setae on cheeks; sides convex; vertex straight; frontal carinae width about HW/3; maximum head width occurs at eye centres; clypeus anterior margin feebly projecting with a central concavity. Colour: head and gaster brown otherwise brownish yellow.

Minor as for major worker.

Type Material
Holotype: One minor worker pinned in “N.S.W. Eccleston Up. Allyn Valley 32°16’S 151°30’E in rotten log 5/10/1995 P S Ward 1314” Paratypes: Three minor workers with same data pinned in each of SAMA, and.



Etymology
Named after P. S. Ward for his contribution to Myrmecology.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * McArthur A. J. 2008. New species of Camponotus (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. B, Botanik, Zoologie 109: 111-129.