Camponotus arenatus

This uncommon species is known from a limited number of minor workers. It ranges from south-central South Australia, north to southern Northern Territory and west-central Western Australia. The only biological information is provided by the single worker collected by B. B. Lowery. It was swept from mallee on red sand.

Identification
Tibiae and scapes lacking erect hairs. In minor workers metanotal groove depressed below level of the anterior region of the propodeum; dorsal surface of node broadly convex, its anterior face much shorter than the posterior face. Dorsal and anterior regions of the pronotum dark red-black, distinctly darker than the yellow-red mesonotum and propodeum. This species is superficially similar to Camponotus donnellani in overall colour pattern but differs in the larger size of the minor worker and the depressed metanotal groove.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  arenatus. Camponotus arenatus Shattuck & McArthur, 2002: 66, figs. 2-4 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
Anterior clypeal margin broadly convex. Dorsal surface of pronotum weakly convex and separated from the weakly convex mesonotum by a shallow angle; metanotal groove slightly but distinctly depressed below the level of the anterior propodeum; propodeum uniformly and weakly convex and without a distinct angle, ratio of dorsum to declivity about 1.5. Petiolar node with a short anterior face which is weakly differentiated from the broadly convex upper surface, the rear face indistinguishable from the upper surface. Erect hairs moderately abundant on all surfaces of the head and dorsal surfaces of the mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster, absent from scapes and tibiae. Head and anterior regions of pronotum black, posterolateral pronotum (immediately above the fore coxae), mesonotum, propodeum, petiole and legs yellow-red, gaster varying from entirely yellow-red to a combination of the yellow-red anteriorly and red-black posteriorly.

Measurements
Minor worker (n=5). CI 0.77 — 0.79; HL 1.94mm — 2.20mm; HW 1.50mm — 1.74mm; ML 3.45mm — 3.81mm; MTL 2.26mm — 2.47mm; SI 1.49 — 1.59; SL 2.38mm — 2.59mm.

Etymology
From arena, alluding to the sandy nature of the known collection sites of this species.