Camponotus imitator

The minor worker of Camponotus imitator is thought to mimic the myrmicine ant Aphaenogaster swammerdami due to its color and the form of its constricted mesonotum and shape of propodeum, which could appear as a petiole in dorsal view (Forel 1891). This myrmicine nests underground and shares its nests with snakes, Madagascarophis colubrinus (Schlegel, 1837) and Leioheterodon modestus (Günther, 1863); it is an important secondary seed disperser of Commiphora guillaumini (Burseraceae) (Böhning-Gaese et al. 1999). (Rasoamanana et al., 2017)

Camponotus imitator is distributed in the dry forest and woodland of western and southern Madagascar at elevations ranging from 25 m to 990 m. Its distribution is sympatric with A. swammerdami through most of its range. It has been collected by litter sifting, Malaise and pitfall traps, as well as beating low vegetation and from the ground in rotten logs. This species nests underground. (Rasoamanana et al., 2017)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  imitator. Camponotus imitator Forel, 1891b: 209, pl. 4, fig. 15; pl. 5, fig. 8 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
 * Combination in C. (Myrmosphincta): Forel, 1912i: 92.
 * Combination in C. (Myrmopytia): Emery, 1920b: 257.
 * Senior synonym of resinicola: Rasoamanana et al., 2017: 133.
 * resinicola. Camponotus imitator var. resinicola Santschi, 1911e: 133 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
 * Raised to species: Wheeler, W.M. 1922: 1049.
 * Reverted to subspecies of imitator: Emery, 1925: 115
 * Combination in C. (Myrmopytia): Emery, 1925: 115.
 * Junior synonym of imitator: Rasoamanana et al., 2017: 133.

Taxonomic Notes
Rasoamanana et al. (2017) - We propose that Camponotus imitator resinicola (Santschi, 1911) is synonymized with Camponotus imitator Forel. In the original descriptions, the former differs from the latter by the presence of reddish patches on the first gastral segment near the petiolar insertion. Examination of material from 10 collection events of C. imitator colonies indicates that this trait is highly variable within colonies, and no other reliable characters were found to separate the subspecies from imitator. Moreover, no other qualitative trait or biogeographic evidence exists that would underpin the subspecies status of resinicola.