Camponotus loweryi

B. B. Lowery described the appearance of the nest above ground at Hillston, New South Wales, in 1978 in a collection that he donated to ANIC. A mound about 20-30 cm in diameter and 2-4 cm in height is generally constructed away from the tree canopy. The entrance near the centre of the mound is usually circular and decorated with small stones. (McArthur and Adams 1996)

Identification
A member of the Camponotus nigriceps species group. McArthur and Adams (1996) - Resembles Camponotus eastwoodi and some light-coloured specimens of Camponotus consobrinus, and Camponotus nigriceps in colour and pilosity. C. loweryi can be distinguished thus: (1) gula setae absent in C. loweryi and C. consobrinus, dense in C. nigriceps, sparse in C. eastwoodi; and (2) gaster of C. consobrinus is distinctly bicoloured, gasters of C. eastwoodi and C. loweryi are for the most part uniform yellowish brown colour or vary only slightly in colour from posterior to anterior. Sympatric with C. consobrinus, C. nigriceps and Camponotus clarior.

Distribution
The species is widespread in south-eastern and eastern Australia, particularly in semi-arid habitats.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  loweryi. Camponotus loweryi McArthur, in McArthur & Adams, 1996: 33, fig. 25 (s.w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Colour: head black or brown with lighter pitches, mesosoma, node and most of gaster honey colour or yellowish posterior gaster sometimes slightly darker, coxa and femur lighter often whitish, tibia and tarsus red brown. Pilosity: up to 0·5 mm long, plentiful on pronotum, less on mesonotum and 5-10 on propodeum (Fig. 25a, b), absent on gula, plentiful on gaster pointing backwards, short setae on scapes raised to 10°, short setae on midtibiae raised to 10°. Pubescence: adprcsscd setae about 0·1 mm long fine, spaced < length, scarcely visible on the dorsum of mesosoma, sparse on head. Integument finely reticulate, glossy. Node summit viewed from rear: convex or Oat in major workers, convex in other workers. Metanotum usually distinct in major workers.

HW = 1.60-4.05 mm; HL= 2.20-4.25 mm; TL = 2.70-4.00 mm; n = 40. HW:HL sometimes reaches 1.0 in major workers where HW > 4.0 mm. TL = 2.26 + 2.73 Jog HW (n = 20, r = 0.96, s.e.(y) = 0.12, s.e.(x) = 0.08). PD: D = 1.0 in major workers increasing to 3.0 in minor workers.

Type Material
Holotype. One major worker (pinned) plus paratypes in alcohol, SAMA,. Collected by A. J. McArthur, May 1993, at Tipperary Dam m Danggali Conservation Park, South Australia.



Etymology
This species is named after the Reverend B. B. Lowery SJ.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * McArthur A. J., and M. Adams. 1996. A morphological and molecular revision of the Camponotus nigriceps group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Australia. Invertebr. Taxon. 10: 1-46.