Key to Australian Camponotus minors of the southwestern Botanical Province

This key to minor workers is based on: [[Media:Heterick 2009.pdf|Heterick, B. E. 2009a. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76: 1-206. Part 1 PDF]]

Since the publication of this key the genus Colobopsis has been removed from its synonymy with Camponotus. Colobopsis species are therefore included in this key.

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 * Australia
 * Camponotus
 * Colobopsis
 * Key to Australian Camponotus species

1

 * Inner surfaces of middle and hind tibiae lacking elongate setae (Figure 186a); frontal carinae width usually > 1/2 HW (slightly less than ½ HW in C. macrocephalus group sp. JDM 927) (Figure 250); (macrocephalus species-group) . . . . . 2


 * Inner surfaces of middle and hind tibiae with double row of stout bristles (Figure 187); frontal carinae width <1/2 HW (Figure 251) . . . . . 3

2
return to couplet #1
 * Mesosoma and node without erect setae or pubescence; venter of head capsule without erect setae; in profile, protuberances on dorsum of mesosoma smoothly rounded; propodeal spiracle near midpoint of propodeum (Figure 252) . . . . . Colobopsis gasseri


 * Mesosoma and node pubescent, erect setae on all body surface; a few erect setae on venter of head capsule; protuberances on dorsum of mesosoma rather angulate in outline; propodeal spiracle near declivitous face of propodeum (Figure 253) . . . . . Colobopsis macrocephala group sp. JDM 927

3
return to couplet #1
 * Mentum with elongate, J-shaped setae near its posterior margin (Figure 188) (C. wiederkehri species-group) . . . . . 4


 * Without elongate J-shaped setae on posterior margin of mentum (Figure 189) . . . . . 15

4
return to couplet #3
 * Head capsule strongly tapered posteriad, with fluted edges around foramen (Figure 254) . . . . . Camponotus johnclarki


 * Head capsule rounded in normal way posteriorly (Figure 255) . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * Surfaces of tibiae and antennal scape with many erect, bristly setae (Figure 256a, b) . . . . . 6


 * Surfaces of tibiae and antennal scape lacking erect, bristly setae (Figure 257a, b) . . . . . 7

6
return to couplet #5
 * In profile, petiolar node thick, about as high as wide, pubescence on head and gaster abundant, individual setae overlapping (Figure 190b) . . . . . Camponotus gouldianus


 * In profile, petiolar node thinner, about twice as high as wide; pubescence on gaster less abundant, individual setae usually not overlapping (Figure 191b) . . . . . Camponotus terebrans

7
return to couplet #5
 * Metanotal groove strongly impressed, rising abruptly at commencement of propodeum (Figure 258a); petiolar node elongate, flattened, with anterior face much shorter than posterior face (Figure 258b) . . . . . Camponotus versicolor


 * Metanotal groove, at most, only weakly to moderately impressed (e.g. Figures 259a, 260, 261), in such cases not rising abruptly with commencement of propodeum; petiolar node variable but not normally elongate and vertex often distinctly convex, its anterior face only slighter shorter than its posterior face (Figure 259b) . . . . . 8

8
return to couplet #7
 * Angles of vertex acute; ant with 'hump-backed' appearance (Figure 192) . . . . . Camponotus postcornutus


 * Angles of vertex rounded; dorsum of mesosoma gently to moderately sinuate (e.g. Figure 193) . . . . . 9

9
return to couplet #8
 * Metanotal groove visibly impressed, propodeum distinctly convex (Figure 260); first gastral tergite may be lighter in colour than remaining tergites . . . . . 10


 * Metanotal groove vestigial or absent, propodeal dorsum straight or barely convex (Figure 261); first gastral tergite concolorous with remaining tergites . . . . . 11

10
return to couplet #9
 * In full-face view, setae on the lower sides of head capsule lacking; head and mesosoma red (Figure 262) . . . . . Camponotus wiederkehri group sp. JDM 924


 * In full-face view, head capsule with many erect setae around its perimeter; head and mesosoma orange (Figure 263) . . . . . Camponotus wiederkehri group sp. JDM 925

11
return to couplet #9
 * Eye larger, eye length about 1/4 length of head capsule (Figure 264) . . . . . Camponotus wiederkehri


 * Eye smaller (eye length 1/5 ≤ head length) (Figure 265) (ants in C. ceriseipes complex) . . . . . 12

12
return to couplet #11
 * Viewed from behind, appressed setulae on one side of gaster gradually converging towards centre of gaster, without clear central line of demarcation (Figure 266) . . . . . Camponotus ceriseipes complex sp. JDM 105


 * Viewed from behind, appressed setulae on one half of gaster the mirror image of appressed setulae on the other half, the two sides meeting in a clear line of demarcation (most noticeable on tergites 2–4) (Figure 267) . . . . . 13

13
return to couplet #12
 * Erect setae sparse on mesosoma, on propodeum 4 ≤, clustered on or near propodeal angle . . . . . Camponotus donnellani


 * Erect setae abundant on mesosoma, on propodeum 4 >, arranged along length of Sclerite . . . . . 14

14
return to couplet #13
 * Scapes relatively shorter (SI < 150); petiolar node often tending to rectangular in profile, rounded above and inclined anteriad . . . . . Camponotus ceriseipes


 * Scapes relatively longer (SI > 150); petiolar node often tending to tumular in profile, rounded above and inclined anteriad . . . . . Camponotus prosseri

15
return to couplet #3
 * Clypeus concave or with anteromedial notch; clypeus projecting beyond genae, clypeal angles acute or right-angled (C. nigriceps species-group) (Figure 200) . . . . . 16


 * Conformation of clypeus not as above . . . . . 20

16
return to couplet #15
 * Setae on venter of head capsule absent (Figure 201) . . . . . Camponotus longideclivis


 * Setae on venter of head capsule present (Figure 202) . . . . . 17

17
return to couplet #16
 * Dorsum of propodeum with 10 > erect setae, setae distributed over propodeum (Figure 203) . . . . . 18


 * Dorsum of propodeum with 10 < erect setae at or near propodeal angle (Figure 204) . . . . . 19

18
return to couplet #17
 * Head, mesosoma, node and most of gaster uniformly honey coloured . . . . . Camponotus clarior


 * Head black or brown, mesosoma yellow or red-brown . . . . . Camponotus nigriceps

19
return to couplet #17
 * Erect setae on venter of head capsule 20 >, or setae covering more than 1/2 venter area (Figure 205); typically, head dark brown or black, mesosoma yellowish to dark red and gaster brown or black, with or without yellowish colouration anteriad . . . . . Camponotus dryandrae


 * Erect setae on venter of head capsule 20 <, or setae covering less than 1/2 venter area (Figure 206); typically, head, mesosoma and gaster concolorous dark brown or black . . . . . Camponotus prostans

20
return to couplet #15
 * Head capsule behind eyes strongly attenuated, the edges of the foramen fluted or flanged (Figure 268a, b); number of mandibular teeth usually 7 or more (C. subnitidus species-complex) . . . . . 21


 * Head capsule behind eyes not strongly attenuated, the edges of the foramen normal (Figure 269a, b); number of mandibular teeth often 5 or 6 . . . . . 22

21
return to couplet #20
 * Setae on venter of head capsule absent; number of mandibular teeth 9, mesosoma reddish-brown . . . . . Camponotus rufus


 * Setae on venter of head capsule present; number of mandibular teeth 7 or 8, mesosoma ochre to brown . . . . . Camponotus tricoloratus

22
return to couplet #20
 * Body and appendages covered with short, white, erect setae; pubescence lacking on head, gaster and most of mesosoma; number of mandibular teeth 7; clypeus projecting, its anterior margin straight, without central notch or depression . . . . . Camponotus molossus


 * Body and appendages rarely covered with short, white, erect setae; if many white, erect setae present, then differing in one or more of the other characters . . . . . 23

23
return to couplet #22
 * Metanotal groove deeply impressed, the propodeum quadrate (Figure 270); sculpture of head and mesosoma densely microreticulate-foveate . . . . . Camponotus whitei


 * Metanotal groove weakly impressed or obsolete, propodeum not quadrate . . . . . 24

24
return to couplet #23
 * Combination of 9 or 10 mandibular teeth, gracile body and elongate head capsule that is moderately attenuated behind large compound eyes (Figure 271) . . . . . Camponotus claripes group sp. JDM 63


 * Number of mandibular teeth usually 8 ≤; if 7 or more, then head capsule not as above, usually square, often with vertex broad and somewhat flattened . . . . . 25

25
return to couplet #24
 * Propodeum with a transverse notch about midpoint of its dorsal face (Figure 272) . . . . . Camponotus sp. JDM 26


 * Propodeum without transverse notch (Figure 273) . . . . . 26

26
return to couplet #25
 * Number of mandibular teeth nearly always 7 or 8, very rarely 6 or 9 teeth on one or both mandibles (in which case mesosoma is distinctly concave in profile), mesosoma with concavity or angle at metanotal groove, or propodeum concave; head often square with eyes set at or near angles of vertex (Figures 274); body often densely hairy or with thick pubescence (C. ephippium species-complex) (Figure 275) . . . . . 27


 * Number of mandibular teeth 5 or 6; in profile, dorsum of mesosoma often strongly convex, dorsum of propodeum may have a distinct concavity or 'saddle' in a few species, but usually convex or straight in outline; vertex of head capsule often strongly convex with eyes set well below vertex (taxa with flattened vertex or with angle between vertex and sides of head capsule usually have 5 teeth and a strongly convex propodeal dorsum in profile); body rarely with thick pubescence . . . . . 38

27
return to couplet #26
 * In profile, vertex of head capsule tapered to a blunt angle; body with pinkish iridescence (appearance that of a meat ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus group)) (Figure 276) . . . . . Camponotus perjurus


 * In profile, vertex of head capsule not tapered to a blunt angle, pinkish iridescence lacking, appearance not meat-ant like . . . . . 28

28
return to couplet #27
 * Small species (HW ≤ 1 mm) . . . . . 29


 * Species larger (HW ≥ 1.5 mm) . . . . . 30

29
return to couplet #28
 * Non-gracile species; in full-face view, head capsule almost as wide as long; clypeus projecting forward, its anteromedial clypeal margin straight (Figure 277) . . . . . Camponotus sponsorum


 * Gracile species; in full-face view head capsule less than two thirds as wide as long; anterior margin of clypeus strongly and evenly convex (Figure 278) . . . . . Camponotus longifacies

30
return to couplet #28
 * Vertex convex, without distinct separation between vertex and sides of head capsule; eyes placed somewhat below level of dorsum of vertex (Figure 279) . . . . . 31


 * Vertex flat or nearly so, vertex and sides of head capsule may be separated by angle; eyes placed at or near dorsum of vertex (Figure 280) . . . . . 33

31
return to couplet #30
 * Tibiae (Figure 281a) and antennal scape (Figure 281b) (and rest of body) covered with many long, erect, white setae . . . . . Camponotus pawseyi

setae . . . . . 32
 * Tibiae (Figure 282) and antennal scape (Figure 283), at least, lacking long, erect, white

32
return to couplet #31
 * Tibial setae raised to angle of about 20 degrees (Figure 284); in full-face view sides of head with very many erect, white setae; antennal scape often with several semi-erect setae . . . . . Camponotus cinereus notterae (in part - also )


 * Tibial setae appressed or barely raised (Figure 285); in full-face view, sides of head with fewer (usually 12≤), erect, white setae; antennal scape lacking semi-erect setae . . . . . Camponotus ephippium complex sp. JDM 775

33
return to couplet #30
 * Tibial setae raised to angle of 20 degrees, giving leg of ant a shaggy appearance (Figure 284) . . . . . 34


 * Tibial setae appressed or barely raised (Figure 285) . . . . . 36

34
return to couplet #33
 * With combination of vertex of head completely flattened, with blunt angle distinctly separating dorsum of head from its sides (Figure 280) and antennal scape with several longer, erect or semi-erect setae . . . . . Camponotus near ephippium sp. JDM 431


 * Either vertex of head not so flattened, without distinct separation of dorsum and sides (Figure 279), or antennal scape lacking several longer, erect or semi-erect setae except at the end . . . . . 35

35
return to couplet #34
 * In full-face view, vertex of head behind eyes slightly convex, narrowed towards occiput, eyes set just below posterior angles of vertex (Figure 286); sides of head with many erect setae; ant black or black-and-red in colour with orange mid and hind femora, femora black distally . . . . . Camponotus cinereus notterae (in part - also )


 * In full-face view, vertex of head behind eyes flattened, truncated, not narrowed towards occiput, eyes set at posterior angles of vertex (Figure 287); sides of head usually with few erect setae; colour various but legs not as above . . . . . Camponotus ephippium

36
return to couplet #33
 * Individual minute setulae comprising pubescence linked together in rows, giving feathery appearance to each cluster, thick and overlapping on clypeus (Figure 288) . . . . . Camponotus dromas


 * Individual setulae comprising pubescence distinct, less abundant and non-overlapping on clypeus (Figure 289) . . . . . 37