Key to Afrotropical Camponotus

1

 * Petiole nodiform or scale, never with spines or other lateral processes .....2
 * Petiole with spines or other lateral processes, never purely nodiform or a scale .....buchneri sp. gr. (Phasmomyrmex)

2
return to couplet 1


 * Clypeus very distinctive, with its posterior third triangular (in the major caste), and raised over the anterior portion; a row of long hairs inserted into the border of this posterior third directed downwards, surpassing the clypeal anterior line and overhanging the mandibles; underside of the head and mandibles with long “J” shaped quetae ..... mystaceus sp. gr. (Myrmopsamma )


 * Clipeus and mandibulae without this quetae .....10

10
return to couplet 2


 * Mesopropodeal suture present and conspicuous, forming a conspicous “V” or “U” shaped furrow. Mesonotum and propodeum do not follow a continuous, smooth, convex curved line; sometimes propodeum conspicuously separated from mesonotum and can be located lower or upper the mesosotum level .....11


 * Mesopropodeal suture absent or faint, never forming a conspicous “V” or “U” shaped furrow. Mesonotum and propodeum can follow or not a continuous, smooth convex curved line .....100

11
return to couplet 10
 * Propodeum swollen, sometimes raised over the mesonotum level, sometimes armed with small teeth. The posterior side of the propodeum normally concave, although sometimes only slightly so. Dorsal and lateral faces of the propodeum usually separated by ridges than can form small obtuse triangular teeth posteriorly. Petiole never slender or squamiform, but thick and normally cubical or rectangular ..... sericeus sp. gr. (Subg. Orthonotomyrmex)

NOTE: Camponotus scalaris presents a swollen propodeum that could fall under this description, but presents an squamiform petiole.


 * Propodeum neither raised over the mesonotum level nor with its posterior side concave and/or armed with small teeth. Petiole squamiform ..... vividus sp. gr. (Myrmisolepis & Myrmopelta)

100
return to couplet 10
 * At least gaster covered with thick, conspicuous yellow quetae, although bare patches can be present .....110
 * Gaster with different kind of pilosity .....101

101
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 * At least propodeum, petiole and basal strips of tergites with notorious thick, long, white setae ..... niveosetosus sp. gr. (Myrmopyromis)
 * Propodeum, petiole and basal strips of tergites without these notorious thick, long, white setae .....102

102
return to couplet 101
 * Mesosoma in profile view forming a continuous, convex, smooth line. Dorsal face of propodeum much longer than height of decliveous face, giving the mesosoma an slender appeareance, specially in the minor caste. Clipeus overhanging the mandibles, forming a rectangle, usually carinated. In some minors, the rectangle is poorly defined, becoming more in rounded triangular shape. .....103 (Myrmosericus & Tanaemyrmex)
 * Clipeus not carinated (CHK!!!) and not not overhanging the mandibles, but following a straight line with the mandibular insertions. Diverse mesosoma shapes in profile view, but dorsal face of propodeum with lenght similar or ckearky smaller than height of decliveous face, giving the mesosoma compressed, sometimes bulky, appeareance .....300

103
return to couplet 102
 * Whole body covered by a dense pubescence, providing a silky appeareance. Body sculpture finely and densely punctuated, creating a matt appeareance ..... 112 (Myrmosericus)
 * Whole body not covered by a dense pubescence, but, if present, a very sparse one. Body sculpture various, usually smooth and shining ..... 150 (Myrmoxygenys, Tanaemyrmex)

110
return to couplet 100
 * Head with abundant long yellow erect setae. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of pronotum rounded ..... gr rhamses+rhamses completus
 * Head without long yellow erect setae. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of pronotum meeting at an angle. Anterior corners of pronotum clearly demarcated, forming an obtuse angle ..... fulvopilosus sp. gr.

200
--- Myrmoxygenis species group: completed except Camponotus coniceps, Camponotus etiolipes, Camponotus pompeius, Camponotus pompeius cassius, Camponotus pompeius iota, Camponotus pompeius marius ---


 * Head strongly narrowed posteriorly, trapezoidal, with its anterior width at the base of the mandibles more than doubling the occipital width. Mandibles with five teeth, the apical very long. Clypeus without carinae. Maxillary palps, antennae and legs very long, with antennae length tipycally more than three times the head length ..... 101 (Subg. Myrmoxygenys)
 * Head from ovoid to rectangular or cuadrangular. If trapezoidal with its anterior width at the base of the mandibles more than doubling the occipital width then carinae present at clypeus. Mandibles in various shapes. Clypeus with or without carinae. Antennae length less than three times the head length ..... 110


 * Overall colour pale yellow to light brownish-yellow, with zones near the occiput slightly darker ..... Camponotus caesar
 * Head dark brown to black, much darker than the rest of the body. Mesosoma and gaster can present zones dark yellow to brownish black ..... Camponotus caesar imperator

NOTE: I'd add C. pompeius and ssp., C. coniceps, C. etiolipes to this subgenus plus one species from gorongosa

110
return to couplet 100

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 * Pronotum angled, or at least the dorsal and lateral surfaces meeting at a distinct angle. Sometimes a blunt tooth can appear … .....11 (Myrmopiromis & Myrmisolepis species groups)


 * Pronotum rounded … .....50

x11
return to couplet 10


 * Gaster covered with thick, conspicuous yellow quetae, although bare patches can be present .....12 (fulvopilosus sp group) (brevisetosus, detritus, fulvopilosus, storeatus)
 * Gaster without thick, conspicuous yellow quetae .....16

16
return to couplet 11
 * Gaster and petiole with thick, conspicuous white quetae. Some can also appear on mesonotum and propodeum … Camponotus niveosetosus
 * Gaster and petiole without this kind of quetae. Long quetae can be present, but never thick .....17