Camponotus bishamon

Camponotus bishamon is an arboreal species commonly found in the Nansei Islands (Terayama 1999).

Identification
Terayama (1999) - Total length of major workers around 5-5.5 mm, and minor workers around 4-4.5 mm. Body black excepting pronotum dark brown. This species resembles Camponotus vitiosus, but is distinguished by the straight or very weakly concave dorsal margin of its propodeum and the thin and asymmetrical shape of its petiolar scale (the anterior margin of the petiolar scale is shorter than the posterior margin in profile). This species resembles Camponotus vitiosus from the Japanese mainland and Korea, and Camponotus jejuensis from Cheju Island, Korea. However, it is separated from these congeners by the straight or very weakly concave dorsal margin of its propodeum in minors and majors (distinctly concave in Camponotus vitiosus and Camponotus jejuensis), and the thin and asymmetrical shape of its petiolar scale in majors (thick in jejuensis; thick and almost symmetrical in vitiosus).

Distribution
Nansei Islands.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

Nomenclature

 *  bishamon. Camponotus (Myrmamblys) bishamon Terayama, 1999b: 39, figs. 24-30 (s.w.) JAPAN.

Worker
Holotype worker: HL 1.61 mm; HW 1.55 mm; 8L 1.00 mm; C1 96; 81 64; WL 1.75 mm; PW 1.03 mm; P8L 0.63 mm; PH 0.19 mm; DPW 0.48 mm; TL 5.3 mm. Head almost as long as wide, with subparallel sides and almost straight posterior margin in full face view. Mandible with 5 teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus slightly convex. Eye flat, 0.33 mm in maximum diameter. Antennal scape exceeding the posterior margin by about 1/5 of its length. Mesosoma in profile with slightly convex pro- and mesonotal dorsum and straight propodeal dorsum; posterodorsal corner forming a blunt angle. Petiolar scale relatively thin and high, turned forward, posterior margin higher than anterior margin in profile; scale in dorsal view 0.4 times as long as wide. Lower half of head and mandible with short erect hairs; pronotal and mesonotal dorsa each with a pair of erect hairs; propodeum with several erect hairs; petiolar scale with 4-5 pairs of erect hairs; gaster with suberect hairs which are moderately spaced. Body black excepting pronotum dark brown; mandible and legs blackish brown.

Minor. HL 1.10 mm; HW 0.95 mm; 8L 1.00 mm; C1 87; 81 150; WL 1.45 mm; PW 0.70 mm; P8L 0.13 mm; PH 0.45 mm; DPW 0.25 mm; TL 4.5 mm (A paratype from the same nest as holotype measured). Head oval, with convex posterior margin in full face view; posterolateral corner rounded, not angulate. Mandible with 5 teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus convex. Antennal scape exceeding the posterior margin by about 1/3 of its length. Eye weakly prominent, 0.25 mm in maximum diameter. Mesosoma in profile with slightly convex pro- and mesonotal dorsum and straight propodeal dorsum; propodeum relatively long; posterodorsal margin not angulate. Petiolar scale relatively thick, turned forward, posterior margin higher than anterior margin in profile; scale in dorsal view 0.4 times as long as wide. Pronotal dorsum without hair; mesonotal dorsum with a pair of hairs; propodeal dorsum with several hairs. Head, mesothorax, propodeum, petiole and gaster black; pronotum, antenna, and legs dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Major worker, Urauchi, Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Pref., 19. III. 1984, M. TERAYAMA leg. Paratypes. 14 major workers, 8 minor workers, same data as holotype; 4 major workers, Ishigaki-jima, Okinawa Pref., 13. VIII. 1978, M. TERA YAM A leg.; 2 major workers, 4 minor workers, Yonaguni-jima, Okinawa Pref., 1. VIII. 1989, H. TAKAMINE leg.