Camponotus zavo

This species is widely distributed in eastern Madagascar and occupies a wide array of habitats ranging from lowland rainforest at 175 m of elevation to montane forest habitats up to 1520 m in elevation. Foraging is carried out on lower part of vegetation and nests are built in dead twigs above the ground. (Rakotonirina et al. 2016)

Identification
Rakotonirina et al. (2016) - A member of the Camponotus edmondi species group. In profile, anterior and posterior margins of petiolar node convex; in profile, propodeal dorsum and declivitous surface separated by blunt angle; in dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long; mesopleuron with propodeal surface together distinctly wider than lateral portion of pronotum; in profile, propodeal dorsum roughly as long as declivitous margin; dorsum of head and mesosoma smooth, shiny, and superimposed by imbrication; in profile, mesonotum slightly sloping down to the level of propodeum, maximum length distinctly shorter than distance between metanotal groove and propodeal spiracle; in dorsal view, lateral margin of mesonotum well defined and evenly convex, converging abruptly towards metanotal groove; junction of pronotal dorsum to lateral surface always rounded; blunt angle between dorsal margin of propodeum and declivity distinct; antennal scape and gastral segment covered with abundant appressed pubescence.

Camponotus zavo is very similar to the sympatric species Camponotus varatra in that in both, the integument is smooth and shining or imbricate and the lateral margins of the mesonotum are well-defined and evenly convex. However, C. varatra can be distinguished by the fact that it has no distinct angle separating the propodeal dorsum and the declivitous margin in lateral view and the dorsum and the lateral surface of the pronotum are separated by a sharp angle.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Worker
Minor

Worker
Major

Nomenclature

 *  zavo. Camponotus zavo Rakotonirina, Csősz & Fisher, 2016: 146, figs. 5B, 10C, 17C, 17D, 18A, 18B, 33, 48 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
Minor. In full-face view head subquadrate (CWb/CL: 0.93–1), sides approximately straight and slightly diverging posteriorly; posterior border medially convex and nearly straight towards corners. Level of posterior ocular margins located around or lower than posterior fifth portion of head (PoOc/CL: 0.18–0.23). Anterior clypeal margin straight. Mandible triangular, armed with six teeth. Antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 1–1.22), distal portion extending beyond posterior cephalic border. Anterodorsal angle of pronotum extending anteriorly into narrow edge, but dorsolateral portion without longitudinal margination, junction of dorsum to lateral surface rounded. In dorsal view, mesonotum narrow, less than twice as broad as long; lateral margin well defined and evenly convex, converging abruptly toward metanotal groove. In profile, propodeum not strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, propodeal dorsum with a short, more or less horizontal edge and suddenly sloping posteriorly to join the declivitous surface at a blunt angle. In profile, dorsolateral carina of propodeum as long as its posterolateral margin; width of mesopleuron and propodeal surface combined distinctly greater than width of lateral portion of pronotum. In profile, maximum length of mesonotum distinctly shorter than distance between metanotal groove and propodeal spiracle, which is located on declivitous surface. Maximum width of coxa of foreleg greater than width of meso-metapleuron combined. In profile, anterior margin of petiolar node convex and posterior margin inclined posteriorly until mid-height and descending almost vertically to posteroventral angle. Constriction between abdominal segments III and IV lacking.

Dorsum of head, mesosoma, petiole, and gastral tergites smooth and shiny with superimposed imbricating sculpture. Lateral portion of head near base of mandible with scattered shallow punctures. Mandible smooth and shining between sparse punctures. Whitish erect hairs arranged as follows: several pairs on clypeus, three pairs on frontal carina, one pair at level of eyes and one pair on posterior portion of head dorsum; lacking on pronotum; one to two pairs on mesonotum; numerous hairs on propodeum arranged in a row along junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity; lacking on declivitous face just above spiracle; a few pairs arranged in a row near lateral margin and posterodorsal angle of petiolar posterior face; sparse and slender erect hairs arranged transversely on anterior and posterior portions of each gastral tergite. Appressed pubescence present, abundant on antennal scape. Head, mesosoma, and petiole black; gaster dark brown; appendages brown to light brown.

Major. Similar to minor worker, but differing in the following characters: head slightly wider than long (CWb/CL: 1.01–1.04), posterior margin almost straight; antennal scape hardly surpassing posterior cephalic border (SL/CS: 0.76–0.82); level of posterior ocular margins at about posterior third portion of head (PoOc/CL: 0.24– 0.27); mandible more robust with accentuated microreticulation basally and microreticulate punctate near apical margin; visible metanotum between metanotal groove and propodeum; one to two pairs of whitish erect hairs on pronotum and more on mesonotum and propodeum.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Madagascar, Province Fianarantsoa, Forêt Classée Vatovavy, 7.6 km 122º Kianjavato, –21.4, 47.94, 175 m, rainforest, on low vegetation, 6–8 Jun 2005 (B. L. Fisher et al.) collection code: BLF12401, specimen code: CASENT0060041. Paratype. 1 worker same data as holotype but with specimen code CASENT0060040 (CASC).