Camponotus ceriseipes

This species has been found in coastal sandplain heath, coastal scrub, limestone mallee, low scrub on a dry ridge and on vegetated coastal sand dunes. Nests have been found under rocks and in open sand and workers have been collected from pitfall traps and while beating vegetation. The species has been found with myrmecophilides (Orthoptera) at Mount Compass, South Australia, by B. B. Lowery.

Identification
Scapes relatively short (in minors, SI < 1.5). Posterior section of mesonotum weakly but distinctly convex immediately anterior of the metanotal groove (more so in minors, less so in majors); metanotal groove a shallow, weakly defined concavity in minors. Petiolar node angular or broadly rounded above, the anterior face at most only slightly shorter than the posterior face. Tibiae and scapes lacking erect hairs, propodeum with more than 10 erect hairs (occasionally with fewer) which are scattered along the entire dorsal surface (never limited to near the propodeal angle as in Camponotus donnellani). Anterior clypeal margin in majors broadly convex across its entire width. Head same colour as mesonotum (both either red or black).

This species is most often confused with the morphologically similar Camponotus prosseri. The surest way to separate these species is based on scape length. In larger minor workers of C. ceriseipes the scape is relatively short compared with similar sized C. prosseri workers. Note, however, that this difference is minimal or non-existent in smaller workers due to allometry in this character. Other characters useful in separating minor workers of these taxa are the generally higher and narrower petiolar node and shiny integument in C. ceriseipes compared to the lower and broader node and duller integument in C. prosseri. The shape of the node works well for the majority of minor workers while the shininess of the integument is more problematic due to the highly qualitative nature of, and greater variation in, this character.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  ceriseipes. Camponotus (Myrmophyma) ceriseipes Clark, 1938: 378, figs. 17-19 (s.w.) AUSTRALIA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1974a: 60 (l.). See also: Shattuck & McArthur, 2002: 70.

Description
This species show considerable variation in body colour. The head and mesosoma range from uniform red to uniform black with essentially all intermediate combinations displayed among the available material. There is a weak trend for the Western Australian specimens to be darker and a distinct trend for the Northern Territory specimens to be lighter. However, numerous specimens bridge the gaps between these colour forms, especially within Western Australia, and specimens nearly identical to those from the Northern Territory occur in South Australia along with more typical workers.

Major worker
Pronotum and mesonotum gently convex, metanotum distinct, propodeal dorsum weakly convex, sometimes a little stronger near metanotum; angle well rounded and indistinct, anterior face of petiolar node straight, summit narrowly rounded, posterior face straight, feebly concave near summit. Anterior margin of clypeus weakly convex, scarcely projecting, with a weak carina. Posterior margin of head, underside of head, mesosoma, node and gaster with scattered long setae, tibiae and scapes lacking erect hairs. Head red to black, scape red to black, funiculus dark brown; pronotum red to dark brown; mesonotum red to dark brown; petiole red to black; gaster very dark brown to black; legs red to black.

Minor worker
Anterior clypeal margin convex, carina distinct. Pronotum and mesonotum an even, broad convexity; metanotum indistinct; anterior region of propodeum feebly concave, posterior region straight, angle distinct and widely rounded, ratio of dorsum to declivity near 2. Anterior face of petiolar node straight, inclined forward, summit rounded, posterior face straight. Posterior margin of head, underside of head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster with scattered long setae, tibiae and scapes lacking erect hairs. Head red to black, scape red to black, funiculus dark brown; pronotum, mesonotum, propodeum and petiole each red to black; gaster very dark brown to black; legs red to black.

Measurements
Workers (n=94). CI 0.82 (minor) — 1.23 (major); HL I.42mm — 3.31mm; HW 1.25mm — 4.06mm; ML 2.36mm - 4.28mm; MTL 1.59mm — 2.58mm; PnW 1.07mm — 2.45mm; SI 0.68 (major) — 1.42 (minor); SL 1.75mm — 2.58mm.

Worker. - Length 12mm.

Mandibles and head dark brown, with some lighter and darker tints. Thorax reddish brown, tinged darker in places. Scapes, node and gaster black, femora reddish yellow, tibiae and tarsi brown. Apical half of mandibles coarsely striate-rugose, smooth and punctate at base. Remainder of body very finely and densely reticulate, with fine shallow scattered punctures. Hair yellow, long and erect on mandibles, clypeus and gaster, sparse elsewhere. Pubescence short and adpressed, apparent only on legs. Head one-seventh broader than long, occipital border straight, sides strongly convex, angles rounded. Mandibles furnished with six large sharp teeth. Clypeus convex above and in front, sub-carinate, anterior edge feebly crenulate. Frontal area triangular, small and shallow. Frontal carinae as long as broad behind, twice as broad behind as in front. Scapes extend beyond occipital border by almost one-fourth their length. First and third segments of funiculus equal in length, slightly longer than second, apical segment twice as long as the preceding. Eyes rather small and flatly convex. Only anterior ocellus present, very small, situated in a rather deep pit. Thorax one and one-half times longer than broad. Pro-mesonotal suture deeply impressed, meso-epinotal suture wide and shallow. Pronotum fully twice as broad as long, sides strongly convex. Mesonotum very slightly broader than long, circular, dorsum strongly convex all ways. Epinotum convex transversely, as long as broad in profile pronotum and mesonotum convex, excised at suture, epinotum straight in front, rounded into declivity behind, declivity feebly concave, as long as dorsum. Node slender, scale-like, convex in front, straight behind: in profile twice as high as long, sharply pointed, anterior face convex, posterior face straight. Gaster one and one-half times longer than broad. First segment twice as broad as long, strongly convex in front. Legs long and stout. Worker media - Length 9.5-10 mm.

Black, femora light yellowish red, funiculi brown. Sculpture and pilosity as in worker major. Head very slightly broader than long, occipital border slightly convex. Scapes extend beyond occipital border by almost one-fourth their length. In profile the epinotum lower and node much ticker than in worker major. Worker minor. - 7-7.5 mm.

Color, sculpture and pilosity as in worker media. Head one seventh longer than broad, strongly convex behind eyes. Scapes extend beyond occipital border by almost half their length, thorax one and three-quarter times longer than broad; in profile mesonotum higher in front and more convex. Node thicker, as long as high, parallel, dorsum rounded. Habitat - Reevesby Island. A small nest was found in the ground at the north end of the island.