Camponotus wanangus

Camponotus wanangus was found nesting only in primary forest and at a relatively low density of three nests per 0.32 ha. It occupied two trees, a medium-high tree, Chisocheton ceramicum (Miq.) (Meliaceae), and a high-canopy tree, Teijsmanniodendron bogoriense Koord (Lamiaceae). It nested inside of cavities in live branches at a height of 14 to 21 m. Nests consisted of several hundred workers. Interestingly, the species also shared the trees with other Camponotus and Colobopsis species: Colobopsis sanguinifrons and Colobopsis. cf. macrocephala in T. bogoriense, and with Colobopsis rotunda in Chisocheton ceramicum. The workers of C. wanangus were observed to tend scale insects (Coccidae) inside nest galleries in twigs and branches of C. ceramicum. (Klimes & McArthur 2014)

Identification
Klimes & McArthur (2014) - The species is dimorphic. The shape of the head, mesosoma and petiolus in major and minor workers resemble that of Colobopsis leonardi. The two species can be well separated by the presence of the erect setae on gula (plentiful in C. wanangus but absent in C. leonardi) and longer propodeal declivity (ratio dorsum / declivity about 0.8 in C. wanangus and 1.5 in C. leonardi). In major workers, the anterior part of head and clypeus is much more truncated and delimited from posterior part in C. leonardi (unlike in C. wanangus).

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

Castes

 * Minor Worker


 * Queen


 * Male

Nomenclature

 * . Camponotus wanangus Klimes & McArthur, 2014: 151, figs. 10-11 (s.w.q.m.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).

Worker
Major Structures: in side view, front of head nearly convex with a little flattening at the clypeus and mandibles, only slightly longer than wide. Pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum mostly straight, metanotum a distinct trough, its spiracle well below dorsum, propodeal angle well rounded and about 90°, declivity concave, ratio dorsum / declivity about 0.8. Node thick with front and back mostly straight, summit is convex. Fore femora about 1.5 times thicker than others. Integument finely punctate with a few deeper pits on head. Head in front view: sides straight, nearly parallel; vertex slightly convex. Most of clypeus, anterior head and the closed mandibles forming a circular flat surface. The anterior margin of clypeus projecting a little, notched in the centre. Mandibles with five teeth. Frontal carinae separated by half of head width.

Pilosity: plentiful short erect setae all over head, less on mesosoma, short erect setae on scapes (only visible in front view), plentiful fine pubescence on mesosoma, less on head and gaster.

Colour: mostly black with brownish antennae and tarsi, pubescence white.

Minor Structures: in side view, anterior front of head and clypeus evenly convex, back nearly straight; dorsum of mesosoma similar to major worker: pronotum and mesonotum dorsum convex. Metanotum, its spiracle and integument similar to major worker. Head in front view: sides weakly convex, nearly parallel, vertex convex. The anterior margin of clypeus slightly convex. Mandibles with five teeth. Scape with a few short erect setae. Frontal carinae separated by half of head width.

Pilosity and colour: similar to major worker.

Queen
CI = 77, EL = 0.44, FCD = 0.88, HL = 2.07, HW = 1.59, ML = 3.04, PW = 1.60, SI = 75, SL = 1.19.

Structures: in side view, mesosoma mostly straight, propodeal angle rounded, declivity straight, node thick, with convex summit. In front view, head sides straight and parallel, eyes slightly larger when compared to major worker.

Pilosity: short erect setae plentiful all over, especially on scape and legs.

Colour: similar to workers.

Male
CI = 91, EL = 0.41, FCD = 0.54, HL = 1.04, HW = 0.95, ML = 2.46, PW = 1.25, SI = 110, SL = 1.05.

Structures: in side view, form of mesosoma and node similar to queen. In front view, head sides straight and tapering to the front. Vertex strongly convex. Frontal carinae separated by more than a third of head width, front femora not visibly enlarged.

Pilosity: similar to workers, but setae on cheeks and vertex of the head twice as long. Colour: black, except light brown tarsi.

Type Material
Holotype (minor worker, ): “Papua New Guinea: Madang Province, Wanang (05°14' S, 145°11' E), 3.X.2007, HP0208, leg. P. Klimes”. Paratypes: from the same nest series, labelled as above: 4 minor workers, 2 major workers, 1 queen, 2 males (SAMA); 1 minor worker and 1 major worker ; one individual from each caste.

Etymology
Named after its type locality Wanang village in Papua New Guinea and dedicated to the Wanang people and their forests.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Klimes P., P. Fibich, C. Idigel, and M. Rimandai. 2015. Disentangling the diversity of arboreal ant communities in tropical forest trees. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0117853. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117853
 * Klimes P., and A. McArthur. 2014. Diversity and ecology of arboricolous ant communities of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a New Guinea rainforest with descriptions of four new species. Myrmecological News 20: 141-158.