Key to Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group

This worker key is based on: Rakotonirina J.C., Csosz S., and B.L. Fisher. 2016. Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus edmondi species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae): integrating qualitative morphology and multivariate morphometric analysis. ZooKeys. 572:81-154. doi:10.3897/zookeys.572.7177

The key applies to both minor and major workers.

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 * Camponotus
 * Camponotus edmondi species group

1

 * In profile, anterior margin of petiolar node convex and posterior margin more or less straight; propodeal spiracle located on lateral portion of propodeum, anterior to posterolateral margin of propodeum (Fig. 5A) . . . . . 2


 * In profile, anterior margin of petiolar node convex and posterior margin ei¬ther convex or roughly triangular; propodeal spiracle located on declivitous surface or at posterolateral margin of the propodeum (Fig. 5B) . . . . . 6

2
return to couplet #1
 * Larger species (CS: 1.882–3.725; CL: 1.961–3.686; ML: 3.098–4.667); body color uniformly black to dark brown (Fig. 6A) . . . . . 3


 * Smaller species (CS: 0.875–2.222; CL: 0.98–2.275; ML: 1.373–2.902); body bicolored, head and mesosoma black to dark brown, gaster and ap¬pendages lighter in color (dark brown to depigmented yellow) (Fig. 6B) . . . . . 4

3
return to couplet #2
 * Level of the propodeal dorsum abruptly lower than level of the promesonotal dorsum; pronotal dorsum with few erect hairs; humeral angle extended ante¬riorly into a narrow ridge (Fig. 7A) . . . . . Camponotus ethicus


 * Level of propodeal dorsum not abruptly lower than level of promesonotal dor¬sum; pronotum covered with numerous erect hairs and pubescence; humeral angle slightly tuberculate, not extended into a narrow ridge (Fig. 7B) . . . . . Camponotus robustus

4
return to couplet #2
 * In profile, anterior margin of pronotum broadly rounding to the dorsum; dorsolateral and posterolateral margins of propodeum strongly carinate (Fig. 8A); somewhat larger species (CS: 0.991–2.222; CL: 1.078–2.275; ML: 1.62–2.902) . . . . . Camponotus alamaina


 * In profile, anterior margin of pronotum very short and indistinct, the cervical shield apparently joins the pronotal dorsum directly; at least posterolateral margin of propodeum not strongly carinate, but simply marginate or round¬ed (Fig. 8B); generally smaller species (CS: 0.875–1.739; CL: 0.98–1.922; ML: 1.373–2.235) . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * In dorsal view, dorsolateral portion of propodeum with sharp carina, poste¬rolateral margin marginate (Fig. 9A); in profile, width of mesopleuron, seen at the level of spiracle, about as large as that of lateral portion of propodeum; at least one pair of erect hairs present on propodeal dorsum . . . . . Camponotus androy


 * In dorsal view, dorsal face of propodeum rounded to lateral face, junction without sharp carina, and posterolateral margin rounded (Fig. 9B); in profile mesopleuron, taken at spiracle level, much wider than lateral portion of pro¬podeum; erect hairs lacking on propodeal dorsum . . . . . Camponotus bevohitra

6
return to couplet #1
 * In profile, propodeum strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, without clear distinction between dorsal margin and declivity (Fig. 10A); in dorsal view, mesonotum broad, at least twice as broad as long (Fig. 10B) . . . . . 7


 * In profile, propodeum not strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, propodeal dorsum and declivitous surface separated by blunt angle (Fig. 10C); in dorsal view, mesonotum narrow, less than twice as broad as long (Fig. 10D) . . . . . 8

7
return to couplet #6
 * Posterodorsal corner of mesonotum raised into a bluntly rounded shield (Fig. 11A); somewhat larger species (CS: 1.235–2.667, 1.6; CL: 1.255–2.647, 1.625; ML: 1.843–2.922, 2.257) . . . . . Camponotus echinoploides


 * Posterodorsal corner of mesonotum rounded, not forming an extended shield (Fig. 11B); somewhat smaller species (CS: 1–1.722, 1.265; CL: 0.961–1.725, 1.29; ML: 1.341–2.078, 1.623) . . . . . Camponotus galoko

8
return to couplet #6
 * In profile, straight line connecting one end of dorsolateral carina of propodeum at the metanotal groove to the other end next to propodeal spiracle conspicu¬ously longer than posterolateral margin of propodeum (Fig. 12A) . . . . . Camponotus matsilo


 * In profile, straight line connecting one end of dorsolateral carina of propo¬deum at the metanotal groove to the other end next to the propodeal spiracle approximately as long as posterolateral margin of propodeum (Fig. 12B) . . . . . 9

9
return to couplet #8
 * Dorsum of head and mesosoma densely and finely reticulate punctate (Fig. 13A) . . . . . 10


 * Dorsum of head and mesosoma smooth and shiny, superimposed by fine imbrication (Fig. 13B) . . . . . 13

10
return to couplet #9
 * Dorsum of mesosoma with numerous erect hairs, pubescence conspicuous (Fig. 14A) . . . . . Camponotus mifaka


 * Hairs lacking on dorsum of pronotum; a pair of hairs present on mesonotum; dorsum of propodeum covered with few erect hairs; hairs on propodeum mostly arise along the region separating dorsal surface and declivity; pubes¬cence inconspicuous (Fig. 14B) . . . . . 11

11
return to couplet #10
 * Distance between meso-metapleural suture and dorsolateral margin of pro¬podeum remains the same along the dorsolateral carina of propodeum (Fig. 15A); no distinct angle between dorsal margin of propodeum and declivity, both portions apparently forming a straight line . . . . . Camponotus orombe


 * Distance between meso-metapleural suture and dorsolateral margin of pro¬podeum variable, largest near the junction of dorsolateral carina and declivi¬tous surface (Fig. 15B); blunt angle or convexity between dorsal margin of propodeum and declivity distinct . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * With mesosoma in dorsal view, lateral margins of mesonotum roughly straight and gradually converging posteriorly; width of propodeum at the metanotal groove less than half the maximum width of mesonotum (Fig. 16A); with head in full-face view, anteromedian margin of clypeus truncate . . . . . Camponotus edmondi


 * With mesosoma in dorsal view, lateral margins of mesonotum convex and strongly converging posteriorly; width of propodeum at metanotal groove greater than half the maximum width of mesonotum (Fig. 16B); with head in full-face view, anteromedian margin of clypeus triangular . . . . . Camponotus tafo

13
return to couplet #9
 * In profile, mesonotal dorsum strongly sloping down to the level of propo¬deum, maximum length of mesonotum about as long as distance between metanotal groove and propodeal spiracle (Fig. 17A); in dorsal view, lateral margin of mesonotum not well defined and converging gradually towards metanotal groove (Fig. 17B); head and mesosoma brown . . . . . Camponotus tratra


 * In profile, mesonotum slightly sloping down to the level of propodeum, maximum length distinctly shorter than distance between metanotal groove and propodeal spiracle (Fig. 17C); in dorsal view, lateral margin of mesonotum well defined and evenly convex, converging abruptly to¬wards metanotal groove (Fig. 17D); head and mesosoma dark brown to black . . . . . 14

14
return to couplet #13
 * In profile, anterodorsal corner of pronotum extending anteriorly into narrow edge but dorsolateral portion not marginate, junction of dorsum to lateral surface always rounded; blunt angle between dorsal margin of propodeum and declivity distinct, or the junction between both portion rounded (Fig. 18A); antennal scape and gastral tergites I-III covered with abundant ap-pressed pubescence (Fig. 18B) . . . . . Camponotus zavo


 * In profile, anterodorsal corner of pronotum extending anteriorly into narrow edge and dorsolateral portion marginate; junction of dorsum to lateral surface of pronotum sharply angulate; no distinct angle between dorsal margin of propodeum and declivity, both portions apparently forming a straight line (Fig. 18C); antennal scape and gastral tergites I-III with scattered appressed pubescence (Fig. 18D) . . . . . Camponotus varatra