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 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)

Identification
Rasoamanana et al. (2007) - Camponotus imitator is easily recognizable within the group on the basis of the following combination of characters: posterior region of head only slightly extended, not narrowed into a long neck in the minor worker, PoOC/CL 0.256 [0.224, 0.304] and trapezoidal in major worker, CWb/CL 0.951 [0.841, 1.031]; anterior clypeal margin with a rectangular projection ClyL/CL 0.289 [0.231, 0.316]; petiole nodiform PEW/CS 0.224 [0.203, 0.255]; both castes bicolored: head, mesosoma and appendages reddish brown to dark brown, gaster black (minor) to mainly black (major).

Distribution
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

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.

Worker
Rasoamanana et al. (2007) - Minor Head suboval, posterior region of head only slightly and broadly extended with margins weakly convex. (CS) 1.68 mm [1.34, 2.18] (n=25). Standing setae present on posterolateral margin of head and vertex in full-face view. Eyes situated on posterior half of head, PoOC/CL 0.253 [0.224, 0.293]. Frontal carina convex, FR/CS 0.254 [0.209, 0.280], antennal scape surpassing posterior margin of head by more than half its length, SL/CS 1.517 [1.211, 1.731]. Anteromargin of clypeus with broad rectangular projection, posterior margin concave, ClyL/CL 0.271 [0.231, 0.293]; mandible with six teeth, palps long with respect to head size.

Pronotum weakly undulant. Suberect pronotal setae numerous (more than 12). Mesonotum straight, MPD/CS 1.181 [0.954, 1.403]. Erect mesonotal setae varying from absent to numerous (two or three pairs anterior to mesothoracic spiracle). Mesothoracic spiracles prominent; propodeal dorsum protuberant. Erect propodeal setae moderate in number (4–6). ML/CS 1.957 [1.670, 2.149]. Petiole nodiform, dorsum of node convex, petiole higher than broad, PEW/CS 0.242 [0.164, 0.264]. Erect setae present on petiolar apex.

Color: head and mesosoma red to reddish brown, gaster dark brown to black. Erect setae light brown. Sparse appressed pubescence present.

Major In full-face view, head truncated posteriorly, evenly tapering to base of mandibles, posterior margin of head weakly concave. Absolute cephalic size (CS) 3.26 mm [2.32, 3.94] (n=22). Cephalic margin with scattered short hairs; cephalic dorsum coarsely reticulate-foveolate. Eye situated on posterior half of the head, PoOC/CL 0.284 [0.242, 0.323]. Frontal carinae sinuate, FR/CS 0.260 [0.209, 0.280], coronal line distinct, antennal scape just surpassing the posterior margin of head by length of one funiculus segment, SL/CS 0.853 [0.711, 1.155]. Anterior margin of clypeus with a rectangular projection, medially straight to slightly convex, ClyL/CL 0.294 [0.269, 0.326]; masticatory margin of mandible with 7–10 teeth, microreticulate at base, becoming finely striolate apically, with scattered piligerous punctures, rarely with a few weak longitudinal rugae near base.

Dorsal outline of mesosoma complex. Promesonotum forms a regular convexity with a shallow impression at the promesonotal suture and is stepped to the propodeal dorsum. Suberect promesonotal setae inclined anteriorly, ML/CS 1.337 [1.168, 1.655]; metanotum distinct; propodeal dorsum almost straight to evenly convex, posterodorsal margin forms rounded angle with declivity.

Petiole higher than broad, node summit flat; brown standing setae present on entire dorsum. PEW/CS 0.221 [0.199, 0.247].

Color: head, mesosoma, petiole, and base of first gastral segment reddish brown, remainder of gaster dark brown to black. Scattered appressed pubescence generally present. Setae light brown.

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.