Camponotus edmondi

Foraging is done arboreally and nests sites are in dead twigs and branches above the ground. (Rakotonirina, Csősz & Fisher, 2016)

Identification
Rakotonirina et al. (2016) - A member of the Camponotus edmondi species group. In profile, anterior and posterior margins of petiolar node convex; in profile, propodeal dorsum and declivitous surface separated by blunt angle; in dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long; mesopleuron with propodeal surface distinctly wider together than lateral portion of pronotum; in profile, propodeal dorsum roughly as long as declivitous margin; dorsum of head and mesosoma densely and finely reticulate-punctate; erect hairs lacking on dorsum of pronotum; distance between meso-metapleural suture and dorsolateral margin of propodeum largest near the junction of dorsolateral carina to declivitous surface; 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; in full-face view, anteromedian margin of clypeus truncate.

Camponotus edmondi looks similar to Camponotus orombe and Camponotus tafo, but for C. orombe there is no distinct angle separating the propodeal dorsum from the de-clivitous margin in profile, and the distance between the meso-metapleural suture and the dorsolateral margin of the propodeum remains the same along the dorsolateral carina of the propodeum. As in C. tafo, the lateral margins of mesonotum are convex and converge strongly posteriorly while the width of the propodeum at the metanotal groove is more than half the maximum width of the mesonotum. Camponotus mifaka has numerous hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma.

Distribution
Camponotus edmondi is known from Madagascar, Comore, and Mayotte Islands.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Comoros. Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Mayotte.

Habitat
In Madagascar, it is generally distributed along the eastern littoral forests and in human-modified habitats. In neighboring islands, the species occurs also in coastal forests and disturbed forest habitats. Rarely is it found in rainforest between 130 m and 650 m of altitude.

Nomenclature

 *  edmondi. Camponotus edmondi André, 1887: 281 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Forel, 1891b: 49 (s.). Combination in C. (Myrmobrachys): Forel, 1914a: 270; in C. (Orthonotomyrmex): Emery, 1920b: 258; in C. (Myrmisolepis): Santschi, 1921f: 310; in C. (Myrmepinotus) Emery, 1925b: 127. Senior synonym of ernesti: Rakotonirina, Csősz & Fisher, 2016: 118.
 * ernesti. Camponotus edmondi var. ernesti Forel, 1891b: 50 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in C. (Myrmepinotus): Emery, 1925b: 127. Junior synonym of edmondi: Rakotonirina, Csősz & Fisher, 2016: 118.

Worker
Rakotonirina et al. (2016) - Minor. Head elongate in full-face view (CWb/CL: 0.87–0.93), slightly diverging posteriorly; posterior margin convex medially and more or less straight near posterolateral corners; lateral margins slightly convex. Eyes larger relative to head size (EL/CS: 0.24–0.28), their anterior level located at about mid-length of head (PrOc/CL: 0.52–0.58). Anterior clypeal margin truncate; posterior margin weakly notched medially. Mandible triangular, apical margin armed with six sharp teeth which reduce in size towards basal angle of the mandible. Antennal scape short (SL/CS: 0.89–1.06), apical third of its length surpassing posterior cephalic margin. Pronotum dorsally flat, anterodorsal angle marginate. In dorsal view, mesonotum less than twice as broad as long, posterodorsal corner rounded. In lateral view, propodeum not strongly compressed anteroposteriorly, dorsum strongly inclined posteriorly and separated with declivitous surface by blunt angle; mesopleuron with propodeal surface together distinctly wider than lateral portion of pronotum; propodeal dorsum and lateral surface separated by blunt margination; propodeal spiracle on declivitous surface. Coxa of foreleg larger than width of meso-metapleuron. In profile, anterior margin of petiolar node convex, posterior margin inclined posteriorly and then approximately vertically straight to posteroventral angle. Constriction between abdominal segments III and IV lacking.

Dorsum of head and mesosoma finely and densely reticulate punctate; lateral surfaces of head finely and densely reticulate punctate with much smaller punctures. Imbricate sculpture on gastral tergites. Mandible smooth and shiny with sparse piligerous punctures. Whitish hairs lacking on pronotum; several pairs on head dorsum from clypeus, frontal lobe to posterior portion of head; one pair on mesonotum; few pairs arranged transversely at mid-height of posterior face of propodeum; hairs arranged near lateral and dorsal borders of posterior face of petiolar node; scattered and much shorter erect hairs arranged near anterior and posterior margins of each gastral tergite; pubescence not abundant. Color of body, femur, and tibia black; trochanter and tarsi brown to light brown; antenna brown basally and dark brown apically.

Major. With characteristics of minor worker, except: head in full-face view feebly longer than broad (CWb/CL: 0.94–1) and slightly decreasing in width towards the base of mandibles; posterior margin slightly convex; sides broadly convex. Eyes smaller relative to head size (EL/CS: 0.22–0.24), their posterior level located roughly at posterior fourth of head (PoOc/CL: 0.27–0.29). Anterior margin of clypeus truncate and slightly concave. Antennal scape slightly extending beyond posterior cephalic margin. In dorsal view, metanotum visible between metanotal groove and propodeum. In profile, petiolar node much more flattened anteroposteriorly. Head with scattered piligerous punctures laterally near base of mandibles. Dorsum of pronotum with few pairs of whitish erect hairs.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * André E. 1887. Description de quelques fourmis nouvelles ou imparfaitement connues. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 6: 280-298.
 * Emery C. 1886. Saggio di un catalogo sistematico dei generi Camponotus, Polyrhachis e affini. Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna 5: 363-382
 * Fisher B. L. 1997. Biogeography and ecology of the ant fauna of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 31: 269-302.
 * Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.
 * Forel A. 1907. Ameisen von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. Reise in Ostafrika 2: 75-92.
 * Rakotonirina J. C., S. Csősz, 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.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. IX. A synonymic list of the ants of the Malagasy region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 1005-1055