Camponotus auropubens

Camponotus auropubens is widespread in the Afrotropics. In the Malagasy region, it is known from Madagascar and Seychelles. In Madagascar, the species has been found only from the north of the island, on the coastal scrub of Sakalava bay, the dry forest of the Montagne Français and Joffre Ville. In Seychelles, the species occurs in casuarina forest, coastal scrub, and along lowland coastal areas of some of the Aldabra and Cosmoledo atolls. The species nests in rotten logs and forages on the ground in these habitats (Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017).

Identification
A member of the Camponotus grandidieri'' species group.

Rakotonirina et al. (2017) - Body color black. A few pairs of whitish erect hairs confined to posteromedian portion of head; gap between two hairs on promesonotum usually larger than length of hair. Erect hairs on uppermost portion of petiolar node, posterodorsal angle of propodeum and junction between lateral propodeal surface and declivity shorter than distance between posteroventral angle of mesosoma and propodeal spiracle.

Individual workers of C. auropubens are difficult to separate from those of Camponotus grandidieri by visual inspection of body shape. This is indicated by the overlap of the ratio values between the measured morphological characters (See Table 1). However, careful observation of the patterns of erect hairs on the dorsum of the body indicates that the latter species has longer erect hairs on the uppermost portion of the petiolar node, posterodorsal angle of propodeum, and junction between lateral propodeal surface and declivity. These hairs are longer than the distance between the posteroventral angle of the mesosoma and the propodeal spiracle.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Mozambique, Zimbabwe. Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Seychelles.

Nomenclature

 *  auropubens. Camponotus foraminosus r. auropubens Forel, 1894b: 67 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE.
 * Combination in C. (Myrmotrema): Santschi, 1914e: 41.
 * Subspecies of grandidieri: Mayr, 1895: 150.
 * Subspecies of foraminosus: Emery, 1896d: 376; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 250.
 * Raised to species: Santschi, 1915c: 267 (in key); Arnold, 1924: 728; Emery, 1925b: 131.
 * Senior synonym of aldabrensis, freyeri: Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 218.
 * Current subspecies: nominal plus absalon, argentopubens, jacob.
 * aldabrensis. Camponotus foraminosus r. aldabrensis Forel, 1897c: 203 (s.w.) ALDABRA I.
 * Combination in C. (Myrmotrema): Santschi, 1915c: 267.
 * Subspecies of foraminosus: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1050.
 * Subspecies of auropubens: Santschi, 1915c: 267 (in key); Emery, 1925b: 131.
 * Junior synonym of auropubens: Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 218.
 * freyeri. Camponotus (Myrmotrema) olivieri st. freyeri Santschi, 1915c: 270 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
 * [First available use of Camponotus foraminosus subsp. aldabrensis var. fryeri Forel, 1912k: 166; unavailable name.]
 * Junior synonym of auropubens: Rakotonirina, Csosz & Fisher, 2017: 219.

Worker
Rakotonirina et al. (2017) – Minor In full-face view head small (CS: 1.36±0.14; 1.19–1.70) and longer than broad (CWb/CL: 0.88±0.03; 0.84–0.92), lateral margins roughly straight and slightly converging anteriorly; posterior margin more or less convex. Median portion of clypeus transversely trapezoidal (ClyL/GPD: 0.70±0.03; 0.65– 0.79). Eyes rarely breaking lateral outlines of head, their posterior level located at posterior fifth portion of head (PoOc/CL: 0.19±0.01; 0.18–0.21). Anterior clypeal margin truncate with blunt lateral angle; posterior margin weakly notched medially. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin with six sharp teeth. Antennal scape long, roughly its apical third portion extending beyond posterior cephalic border. In lateral view, promesonotal dorsum generally convex, without anterior and dorsolateral margination; propodeal dorsum straight and inclined posteriorly. In dorsal view, mesosoma widest at level of pronotum and decreasing in width towards propodeal declivity; propodeum tapering dorsally. Opening of propodeal spiracle slitlike. Petiolar node flattened anteroposteriorly and tapering dorsally. Tibial spurs of middle and hind legs pectinate.

Dorsum of head and mesosoma with much finer and denser reticulate punctures than lateral portion. Gastral tergites finely and densely reticulate-punctate. Mandible imbricate-punctate. Whitish erect hairs thinner on dorsum of head and promesonotum, becoming thicker on propodeum, petiolar node, and gastral segments. Composition of hairs: a few pairs on median portion of head from clypeus to near posterior cephalic margin; pronotum with a few pairs, mesonotum with one to three pairs, propodeal dorsum and junction of lateral propodeal surface and declivity with scattered hairs. Posterodorsal angle of propodeum, junction between lateral propodeal surface, and declivity and dorsalmost posterolateral margin of petiolar node with whitish erect hairs shorter than distance between opening of propodeal spiracle and posteroventral angle of mesosoma. Pubescence on dorsum of body longer than distance between hairs; pubescence present on upper half of mesopleuron. Body color black and more or less matte; appendages basally reddish or dark brown, apical portion and antennae brown to light brown.

Major Characteristics of minor worker, except: head much larger and subquadrate (CS: 1.98±0.32; 1.54–2.41; CWb/CL: 1.02±0.07; 0.91–1.10); lateral margins broadly convex. Mandible more strongly built. Median portion of clypeus elongate and more rectangular (ClyL/GPD: 0.88±0.07; 0.78–0.97; ClyL/CL: 0.37±0.11; 0.32–0.61). Eyes located medially farther from lateral border of head (CWb/CL: 1.02±0.07; 0.91–1.10; CW/CL: 0.90±0.04; 0.86–0.97), their posterior margins level at posterior fourth of head capsule (PoOc/CL: 0.22±0.02; 0.19–0.26). Roughly one fourth of apical portion of scape extending beyond posterior cephalic margin. In dorsal view, metanotal groove slightly impressed; metanotum not visible. Sculpture of lateral portion of head from near base of mandible, along level of frontal carina to near posterior cephalic margin imbricate, superimposed with larger punctures that are equipped with two to five smaller punctures from which one appressed hair arises. Whitish erect hairs numerous on promesonotum. Basal portion of legs and mandibles reddish to dark brown; apical portion and antenna much lighter in color.

Type Material
Rakotonirina et al. (2017) - Lectotype major worker, Mozambique, Delagoa Bay [Maputo] (Liengme), AntWeb CASENT0910475 [examined]. Paralectotype worker of same data as lectotype but with specimen code: CASENT0911819 [examined].