Crematogaster madagascariensis

Crematogaster madagascariensis is distributed primarily in mid-elevation to montane rainforest in the central highlands region of Madagascar. Curious exceptions are its presence at lower elevations in R.S. Manongarivo and P.N. Marojejy in the north, and in P.N. Mananara-Nord and Foret Ivohibe on the east coast. The type locality for this species is Tamatave on the east coast of Madagascar; however, the species has not been collected recently from this area. This suggests that this species could have been historically more common in lower elevation forests in Madagascar, but habitat destruction may have resulted in a more limited present-day distribution. Crematogaster madagascariensis occurs in sympatry with Crematogaster kelleri and Crematogaster hazolava. Very few colony collections of this species have been made and thus not much is known about its biology. We presume an arboreal lifestyle. (Blaimer and Fisher 2013)

Identification
A member of the Crematogaster kelleri group. Blaimer and Fisher (2013) - Within the C. kelleri-group, workers of C. madagascariensis can be distinguished from Crematogaster kelleri and Crematogaster tavaratra by the position of the propodeal spiracle, which is situated confluent with the base of the propodeal spines in C. madagascariensis, but below the spine base in the two latter species. From the two remaining species, workers are most easily separated by body size and coloration: C. madagascariensis workers are usually larger (HW 0.86–1.11, WL 0.92–1.16) than C. hazolava (HW 0.66–0.89, WL 0.70–0.97) and C. hafahafa (HW 0.68–0.72, WL 0.73–0.74) workers, are brown-colored (yellow in C. hafahafa and some C. hazolava populations) and lack the median postpetiolar stripe (of brown-colored Crematogaster hazolava workers)

Key to Crematogaster kelleri group workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  madagascariensis. Crematogaster madagascariensis André, 1887: 297 (w.q.m.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1023; in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 147; in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.

Worker
HW 0.86–1.11; HL 0.78–0.99; EL 0.15–0.23; SL 0.67–0.86; WL 0.92–1.16; SPL 0.08–0.18; PTH 0.15–0.22; PTL 0.22–0.31; PTW 0.24–0.37; PPL 0.15–0.20; PPW 0.22–0.30; LHT 0.68–0.97; CI 1.07–1.18; OI 0.18–0.27; SI 0.79–0.96; SPI 0.08–0.15; PTHI 0.56–0.83; PTWI 0.93–1.31; PPI1.33–1.71; LBI 1.04–1.50.

Small to large species (HW 0.86–1.11, WL 0.92–1.16), with characters of the C. kelleri-group, in addition to the following.

Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth; posterior margin of head in full face view laterally subangular, sometimes medially slightly depressed; midline of eyes situated slightly above midline of head in full face view.

Lateral borders of mesonotum angulate, and mesonotum with posterolateral angular tubercules; posterior face of mesonotum sloping more gently into metanotal groove; propodeal spines short (SPI 0.07–0.15), spiniform, straight or downcurved, moderately diverging in dorsal view; propodeal spiracle confluent with base of propodeal spines; median postpetiolar impression usually deep, clearly bisecting postpetiole into two lobes. Color light to dark brown.

Queen
HW 1.39, HL 1.26, EL 0.38, SL 0.82, MSNW 1.01, MSNL 1.26, WL 2.21, SPL 0.06, PTH 0.39, PTL 0.43, PTW 0.51, PPL 0.39, PPW 0.55, LHT n.a., CI 1.10, OI 0.30, SI 0.65, MSNI 0.80, SPI 0.03, PTHI 0.91, PTWI 1.18, PPI 1.40, LBI n.a.

Medium (HW 1.39, WL 2.21), with characters of the C. kelleri-group and the following refinements.

Masticatory margin of mandibles with five teeth; antennal scapes usually not reaching head margin (SI 0.65); eyes situated at midline of head in full face view.

Metanotum not projecting from below scutellum in lateral and dorsal view; propodeal spines short (SPI 0.06), dentiform.

Male
Small to medium body size (HW 0.53–0.59, WL 1.02–1.18), with characters of the C. kelleri-group and the following refinements.

Masticatory margin of mandibles with two teeth; antennae with second and third funicular segment globular; occipital carinae indistinct.

Scutellum in dorsal view little tapering from anterior to posterior end; metanotum not projecting below scutellum in dorsal and lateral view; dorsal face of propodeum absent. Head sculpture rugulose; scutellum mostly shiny. Color light brown, with head darker.

Type Material


Notes (Blaimer & Fisher, 2013): At the, where the Andre collection is housed, no specimens from the type locality Tamatave were found. Instead we examined the following (non-type) material from the Andre collection at MNHN: Madagascar (unknown collector), 5 workers on one pin, middle specimen (CASENT0101409) imaged on AntWeb. However, we examined material from with the following type locality information: Madagascar: Tamatave (Friedrichs), 1 w, 1 aQ, 1 m. Given the distribution of other Andre type material across museums in Europe, it is highly likely that these specimens belong to the syntype series (P.S. Ward, pers. comm.) and we therefore consider this material eligible for lectotype designation.